While the exact injury isn’t yet known, things don’t sound good for Red Wings winger Filip Zadina. Speaking with reporters including Helene St. James of the Detroit Free Press (Twitter link) postgame following their overtime victory over the Rangers today, head coach Derek Lalonde indicated the youngster has something broken and that he’ll be out a matter of months, not weeks. The injury occurred back on Saturday after he blocked a shot from Islanders defenseman Ryan Pulock.
That’s hardly good news for the 22-year-old who has been trying to establish his role under their new coaching staff. Zadina has struggled out of the gate this season and has been held off the scoresheet through his first nine games while averaging just under 14 minutes a night. He’s in the first season of a three-year, $5.475MM bridge contract.
Detroit has been hit hard when it comes to their wingers this season. Zadina joins Tyler Bertuzzi and Robby Fabbri as wingers that are currently injured while Jakub Vrana is out indefinitely while he’s in the NHL/NHLPA Player Assistance Program. The Red Wings currently have an open roster spot after placing Zadina on injured reserve late yesterday. Austin Czarnik and Matt Luff have been recent recalls and someone else from AHL Grand Rapids will be getting the call in the near future.
Likely a broken leg or ankle, which sucks for Zadina. Bigger question is how many more players do the Wings need to lose before they finally decide to bring up Jonatan Berggren from Grand Rapids???