MLive’s Ansar Khan discusses Filip Zadina’s status as a healthy scratch during the Red Wings’ 6-2 win over San Jose on Tuesday:
Zadina has gone from first line to second line to third line to healthy scratch in a matter of months, not the trajectory the Red Wings envisioned their No. 1 pick in 2018 would be on two years after becoming a regular in the NHL.
Coach Jeff Blashill said the 22-year-old forward needed a reset. Zadina has just four goals and six assists in 32 games. He has gone nine games without a goal and has just one goal and three points in his past 14 games.
“What Filip wants to do is put himself so he’s not in the mix of players we’re talking about (scratching),” Blashill said following Tuesday’s 6-2 victory over San Jose. “I don’t think it ever hurts a guy every once in a while to hit the reset button, kind of take some pressure off and just go get it. When Z gets back in the lineup, I’m hoping he can come back charged up and play real good hockey.”
Zadina could return as soon as tonight in Anaheim (10 p.m., Bally Sports Detroit), the start of a three-game California trip, with Carter Rowney’s status uncertain due to an injury suffered late in Tuesday’s game.
Whenever Zadina is back, he will feel more urgency to produce, knowing his spot in the lineup isn’t guaranteed.
