Abel to Yzerman

Abel to Yzerman

Decision Time Closing In On Filip Zadina

09/26/2018 at 1:24pm EDT

from Ansar Khan of Mlive,

"I think understanding how to create space is something that when you're not super-fast or super-big, sometimes it takes a little while," Red Wings coach Jeff Blashill said.

Blashill likened Zadina's situation to Tampa Bay's Nikita Kucherov.

"That's the reality of a lot of guys like that, that aren't super-fast, aren't really big," he said. "You got to learn through your hockey smarts how to find that little bit of space to create more. I think Filip has been real close to making a number of plays. He's had chances, they haven't quite gone in yet. I think they will go in.

"But, it's just going to be a matter of a process with him and how long that is, I don't know. I hope he goes out tonight and he scores three and then we're saying, 'Boy, he learned it real fast.' I don't worry about him long-term at all. Obviously, in the short-term we'll have to make some decisions."...

The Red Wings can start him in Grand Rapids and recall him when they feel he is ready.

"From my perspective, as the coach in the NHL, I certainly don't want to lose access to him," Blashill said. "If he goes down there and learns the space at the American League and absolutely tears it up, if that was the case and we sent him down, then that's awesome. Then we can pull him back up and there's certainly been examples of that."

He mentioned Boston's David Pastrnak.

more

Create an Account

In order to leave a comment, please create an account.

About Abel to Yzerman

Welcome to Abel to Yzerman, a Red Wing blog since 1977. No other site on the internet has better-researched, fact-laden and better prepared discussions than A2Y. Re-phrase: we do little research, find facts and stats highly overrated and claim little to no preparation. There are 19 readers of A2Y. No more, no less. All of them, except maybe one, are juvenile in nature. Reminding them of that in the comment section will only encourage them to prove that.

Most Recent Posts

Most Recent Comments

Comment by VPalmer in Abel to Yzerman from the entry What's Your Gut Telling You About Tonight? - 13 minutes ago
Comment by Wingding in Abel to Yzerman from the entry What's Your Gut Telling You About Tonight? - 20 minutes ago
Comment by Wingding in Abel to Yzerman from the entry What's Your Gut Telling You About Tonight? - 22 minutes ago
Comment by bezukov in Abel to Yzerman from the entry What's Your Gut Telling You About Tonight? - 1 hour ago
Comment by OlderThanChelios in Abel to Yzerman from the entry What's Your Gut Telling You About Tonight? - 1 hour ago