"So, obviously not positive," Detroit coach Derek Lalonde said Tuesday, "but it's a little more optimistic than we originally thought."
The forward was placed on injured reserve after a 3-0 win against the New York Islanders on Saturday. He was hit on the right leg by a shot with 5:19 left in the third period.
"Something's broken, lower body," Lalonde said Sunday. "It's going to be a week-to-week, month-to-month type thing, unfortunately."
Zadina, the No. 6 pick in the 2018 NHL Draft, has no points and is minus-3 in nine games this season.
The Red Wings lost 3-2 to the Montreal Canadiens in the shootout at home Tuesday. Injured forwards Tyler Bertuzzi (upper body), Robby Fabbri (knee) and Oskar Sundqvist (upper body), and defenseman
Jake Walman
(shoulder surgery) were on the ice for the morning skate.
Lalonde said the Red Wings are hoping Bertuzzi can return for their upcoming West Coast trip, which begins Saturday at the Los Angeles Kings and includes games at the Anaheim Ducks (Nov. 15) and San Jose Sharks (Nov. 17). Walman had offseason surgery, and Bertuzzi has been out since the second game of the season.
Sundqvist is day to day and hoping to return against the Rangers on Thursday after one more full practice. Forward
Jakub Vrana
is in the NHL/NHLPA players assistance program.
Lalonde said Fabbri and defenseman
Mark Pysyk
(offseason shoulder surgery) are expected back around Jan. 1.
