Detroit — It’s been a long time between games for Filip Zadina and Robert Hagg, but both got their chance Thursday against Calgary.
Zadina entered the lineup for Dominik Kubalik, while Hagg replaced Jordan Oesterle.
For Zadina, especially, a former Wings first-round draft pick (sixth overall), this is another opportunity to establish himself for the Wings’ future.
Zadina’s last game was Nov. 5, when he hurt himself blocking a shot against the New York Islanders. Zadina has played nine games this season with no points, and was a healthy scratch for the first two games of opening weekend.
But, Zadina has worked hard rehabilitating an apparent foot injury, and coach Derek Lalonde is excited to see what Zadina can provide.
“We have to get Zadina playing. He’s worked unbelievably hard through a very tough injury, and I’m excited about getting him this opportunity,” said Lalonde, who called it a “tough” decision to sit the slumping Kubalik, who is a similar player to Zadina, in many ways.
“With the 13 forwards (the Wings currently have), we’ll take advantage of it and you could see guys rotating in and out,” Lalonde said.
Lalonde wants to see Zadina be assertive and attack teams with Zadina’s skating.
“A shoot-first mentality, just less thinking, (and) skating,” Lalonde said of what he wants to see. “You can see the toolset. The skill set is there. We all want it to work, and it can with him playing himself into it. Just go and simplify your game and play to your ability. Here’s a guy who was trying to establish his game, and it takes an injury like that, blocking a shot for his teammates (to lose a spot in the lineup). Just be assertive and go and play and we’ll take care of the odd mistake with video the next morning.
“He overthinks things at times, when he’s not at the top of his game. I’m excited for him. He’s probably two to three weeks ahead of where I was originally told he’d be, so that’s a credit to him. Now, it’s (time to) take advantage of it and go play.”
Kubalik has one goal in his last 10 games — two in his last 15 games — and admits his game isn’t where it was to begin the season.
“I can’t really hide (from it). At the beginning of the season, my game was a lot better,” Kubalik said. “I can kind of feel it now, too, and I’m just trying to get it back. I was shooting and creating more, and everything starts with skating and winning battles. That’s my focus now.”
Hagg has only played 13 games, none since re-injuring himself Dec. 8 in Florida, in what was his first game in nearly a month.
“It’s pretty much as the forward decision, it’s the first time we’ve been this healthy all year and we need to keep running some of these bodies in,” Lalonde said of the decision to play Hagg. “Maybe a little bit of the matchup, too (Calgary is deep and big), and Hagg has a little more physical part to his game.
It’s been a struggle for Hagg, who was hit in the head by a puck during a training-camp scrimmage and missed playing time, but returned to be in the opening-night lineup. Hagg said this is the first time this season he’s been completely healthy.
“I can’t wait,” Hagg said. “I’ve played one game this season healthy, so that has a lot to do with it, which is more frustrating than anything. I can’t wait to come back and play. I know I can help the team for sure, I can play in this league, and help a team.”
Edvisson upswing
Lalonde has received some positive reports on defenseman Simon Edvinsson, the Wings’ 2021 first-round draft pick (sixth overall), from recent games in Grand Rapids.
Edvinsson has 18 points (three goals, 15 assists) in 35 games, with a minus-two plus-minus rating, and a little more consistency is beginning to take over.
“There is a little more confidence and assertiveness in his game,” Lalonde said. “You could see the tools there. He gets caught doing too much, at times, but even in the preseason, you saw in his eight games, on some nights, he looked NHL-ready to be a top-four, and on other nights, you could see it’s going to take some time.
“But, it’s trending well.”
Depending on how the Wings’ season evolves this next month, and how Edvinsson and the Griffins are doing, there’s a chance Edvinsson could possibly get a bit of time in the NHL. If that’s the case, Lalonde would be all for it.
“(General manager) Steve (Yzerman)’s job is to look and take care of the long-term big picture, but for me, I’ll play all these young guys because that’s part of the growth and development,” Lalonde said. “You saw it with Elmer (Soderblom); he grew immensely with his ups and downs early on, and he’s on a good track.
“The more, the merrier. We’ll play them a ton.”
Ice chips
Calgary defenseman Rasmus Andersson was struck by a car Wednesday night while out on a scooter in downtown Detroit. Andersson was briefly hospitalized but released, and his availability is day-to-day.
… The additions of Soderblom, forwards Jakub Vrana and Adam Erne (who just joined Grand Rapids) and goaltender Alex Nedeljkovic have sparked the Griffins. Grand Rapids has won four consecutive games and has points in eight of its last nine games (6-1-2), but are still seven points from a playoff berth.
ted.kulfan@detroitnews.com
Twitter: @tkulfan