from Ted Kulfan of the Detroit News,

Blashill wants to get young defenseman Filip Hronek in the lineup during this upcoming western Canada road trip.

He wants Hronek to play, not sit.

“My expectation is Fil will play on the trip,” said Blashill, who made Hronek a healthy scratch Tuesday in the Red Wings’ victory over Anaheim.

With Danny DeKeyser returning to the lineup Tuesday after missing 20 games after a wrist injury, and none of the remaining five defensemen playing poorly enough to warrant being bumped out, the young Hronek drew the short straw to sit.

Hronek hadn’t been error-free during this most recent stretch of games, but the 21-year-old was also playing with increasing confidence, appeared to be getting incrementally better, and earning points in four of the last five games.

“He’ll be on the trip with us for sure,” said Blashill, effectively squashing the belief Hronek would be sent back to Grand Rapids before next weekend’s NHL All-Star break. “He’s played certainly good enough for him to give me tons of confidence that if I put him in, he can help us win.”

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