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Zadina down, Larkin back, Abdelakader out, Kuffner in |
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There were plenty of changes afoot at Little Caesars Arena on Friday.
Right-winger Filip Zadina was on his way back to AHL Grand Rapids after completing his nine-game stint with the Wings. If Zadina were to play one more NHL game it would burn up one-year of his three-year, entry-level contract.
“What I know 100 percent is that he’s a way better player today than he was in September,” Wings coach told Mlive.com of Zadina. “He’s learning and getting better.”
How much further he moves forward in the long-range process is up to Zadina.
“The next step for anybody like him is now you gotta come back and you gotta show us you can help us win,” Blashill said. “We didn’t win enough during that stretch.
“And that’s not one player, but ultimately you are what you do and our record is reflective of the guys that were on the ice and he was one of them and had pretty good minutes and pretty good opportunities. ”
Detroit was 1-7-1 with Zadina in the lineup and he produced one goal and one assist in his nine-game trial.
“If he wants to be a guy that’s here then he’s gonna have to find ways to be an impactful player that helps us win. We’ve got guys in this locker room that when they’re in our lineup, we’re a way better team.
“That’s the goal ultimately as a player is you wanna make sure you put yourself where you’re that important.”
As Zadina leaves, center Dylan Larkin will draw back into the lineup Saturday against the New York Islanders following a five-game absence due to a neck strain.
“I wouldn’t rush right back in unless I felt 100 percent,” Larkin said. “I don’t feel like I’m rushing.
“It’s been pretty tough watching this past week sitting out, so I want to be out there. I feel 100 percent. I feel ready to help this team out.”
As Larkin gets back in action, left-winger Justin Abdelkader will sit down. Abdelkader, who ended a 40-game goalless drought with a breakaway tally in Thursday’s 5-4 loss to the Tampa Bay Lightning, suffered a bad bruise from a shot block.
“Abby will be out tomorrow,” Blashill said. “He’s day to day.”
That will open up a spot for recently-signed NCAA free-agent left-winger Ryan Kuffner, who originally was supposed Tuesday at the New York Rangers will instead make his NHL debut against the Islanders.
“It’s still like really cool, but I’m just trying to have fun with it and go with the flow,” Kuffner said. “At the end of the day it’s just hockey.”
During his first full practice as a Red Wing on Friday, Kuffner skated on a line with Frans Nielsen and Thomas Vanek. He also worked the half wall on the power play on a unit with Michael Rasmussen, Tyler Bertuzzi, Nielsen and Niklas Kronwall.
“I played a similar spot there and down low,” Kuffer said of his power-play duties this season at Princeton. I think we tried to work it around but for the most part I was around there, looking for the one timer and just trying to get open for the guys. Just trying to attack as much as possible.”
Michigan State left-winger Taro Hirose, Detroit’s other college free-agent addition, is slated to make his NHL debut on Tuesday.
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