#LGRW Daily: Filip Zadina excited to be back

DETROIT - It has been 299 days since the Detroit Red Wings last played a regular season game. Most players spent the time off with family, working out, staying prepared and waiting for any word of a possible 2020-21 season.

Other players, like Filip Zadina, were loaned out to teams in European leagues to keep playing during the lengthy NHL pause. On August 7, 2020, Zadina was officially loaned by the Red Wings to HC Ocelari Trinec in the Czech Republic, his native country. In a typical NHL season, the month of August is spent gearing up for the beginning of Training Camp in September. Zadina was just happy to continue playing to stay fresh for whenever the 2020-21 Red Wings season began.
"It was good for us that we were playing," said Zadina, who was drafted sixth overall by the Red Wings in the 2018 NHL Entry Draft. "We are still young players, so we need to play a lot and not be out of the game for a long time like other guys were. We were lucky."
While on loan, Zadina picked up 14 points (eight goals and six assists) in 17 games. He became more comfortable and consistent, something Red Wings coach Jeff Blashill believes is invaluable to his growth.
"I think it's helped him for certain," Blashill said. "He's a guy who has had a lot of growth. (He) missed some hockey last year but had a good year in terms of growth. If he would have been off for 10 months, like a lot of us were, I think that stunts some of that growth.
"Compete on the puck is a big factor for success for skilled forwards, especially guys who are a little bit smaller. I think he's learning how to compete on that puck on a consistent basis and when he does it, he's got the puck way more. So I think it was a good, valuable couple months to be able to play over there and I think it's helped him hit the ground running here."
Zadina has received ice time in a Red Wings sweater in nine and 28 games, respectively, over the past two seasons. As he continues to battle for a permanent spot on the roster, he knows he needs to continue to be better, both as an individual player, and a teammate.
"It's a tough league to play in. Obviously, I need to be better every day and every game, and I want to do my best," the 21-year old Zadina said. "I believe I can be on this team and I'll do anything for it. I want to be better all over the ice, especially d-zone and going forward to the offense. I've worked on probably everything I could this summer because it was a long summer. I've put on some muscle and put on some weight. I believe in the offensive zone and around the net, I'm stronger and I can find the pucks and create the chances for my teammates and my linemates especially."
Zadina and the Red Wings began Training Camp at the BELFOR Training Center inside Little Caesars Arena on Friday, January 1. They'll open the shortened 56-game season on January 14 at home against the Carolina Hurricanes. Zadina is one of many who are just excited to be back.
"I was at home for a long time, I'm not used to that, so I'm finally back and I'm so happy," Zadina said.

EXCITED TO BE HERE
When Marc Staal was traded from the New York Rangers on September 27, 2020, he said he was shocked, as would most after playing all 13 years of a career with one organization. Now, being in Detroit and on the ice with the Red Wings for Training Camp, he's excited for a new chapter.
"It's been a lot of fun coming to the rink the last few days," the 33-year-old defenseman said. "Tough practices, guys work hard, some good energy around the rink, I've really enjoyed it. I'm excited to be here and be a part of this thing.
"Being physical, stopping plays in my own end, being good in front of the net, defending well so our forwards can get the puck back and make some plays. That's kind of where my focus is right now and getting that area of my game up to where it needs to be. Hopefully I can help the team out that way."

Blashill is also excited to have Staal's presence and size in the lineup.
"He's a big, strong man," Blashill said. "He's hard in front of the net. He's hard in the corners, which helps create stalls, so you can get out of your end and I think he's obviously understood what he is and plays within himself really well."
Staal tallied 11 points in 52 games with the Rangers last season. He missed 13 contests due to an ankle injury and has played in 892 NHL games since debuting during the 2007-08 season.

CONFIDENCE IS KEY
Michael Rasmussen wants to be a part of the Red Wings. Since being drafted ninth overall in the 2017 NHL Entry Draft, he has appeared in 62 NHL games, but spent all of last season with the Grand Rapids Griffins of the American Hockey League after a setback injury. After a long offseason and 18 games in Austria on loan with the Graz 99ers, Rasmussen is eager to be a staple on the Red Wings roster.
"I'm confident. I put a lot of work in and really worked on my game," Rasmussen said. "I just try to get better every day and work hard here and things will work out for me. I want to play on the team and help the team win. I think that just drives me to work hard and try to get better at my game."