Notes: Zadina out for at least two to three more weeks

DETROIT -- Red Wings prized rookie Filip Zadina will miss at least another two to three more weeks with a foot injury, according to coach Jeff Blashill.
"Zadina is still two to three weeks away, so until we get to where he's skating, he'd need a week probably once he gets skating again," Blashill said after Wednesday's practice at the BELFOR Training Center inside Little Caesars Arena. "So you guys (media) will have a way better feel once you see him back on the ice but I would say he's at least a week, if not two weeks away, from being able to skate."

Blashill also indicated he probably underestimated the severity of Zadina's injury originally, but he wanted to stress that Zadina has not suffered a setback while rehabbing his foot.
Zadina's injury occurred on Jan. 31 versus the Rangers in New York and he tried to play through it the next night on Feb. 1, when the Red Wings hosted the Rangers. He played 20:29 in the Wings' 1-0 loss.
"I'm doing fine," Zadina said during Toast of Hockeytown on Wednesday. "I'm getting bored while I'm not on the ice but I gotta be patient. I hope I'll be back soon but it's getting better. That's the most important thing for me. I hope I'll be back soon."
The injury came at a tough time for Zadina, who was beginning to show signs of the offensive weapon he can become in the Detroit lineup.
Prior to the injury, Zadina had four points in his last six games, including three goals.
In 28 games played, Zadina has eight goals and seven assists, he was minus-13, had fired 60 shots, with an ice time average of 15:10.
Despite being hurt, Zadina has been in good spirits and once he returns, the Wings will figure out what's best for the young sniper.
"He's around here almost every day, so I get a chance to be around him. We haven't met a whole bunch. I talked to him right after it happened. Not much anybody can do," Blashill said. "It's just part of life. Just got to grind through it and when he's able to get back at it, he's got to come and be as ready as he can be.
"When you're a young player, every chance you can build up your resume, not just for others but for yourself and feel good about it, I think he had a pretty good run here where he was starting to build some confidence. Whenever he gets back healthy, if he can continue to build that confidence, I think it's an important thing in the development of players.
"That's one of the reasons we, at times, have to act as protectors. We, meaning myself and Steve (Yzerman), with young players. You don't want to put them in position where they get their confidence crushed or their confidence isn't growing, because that's a huge part of the development process."
Another young player who has been solid this season is defenseman Filip Hronek, who was struck on the side of the head by a slapshot from Penguins defenseman Marcus Pettersson in Sunday's 5-1 loss in Pittsburgh.
Hronek was able to skate off under his own power, but he missed Tuesday's game versus Montreal and is unlikely to play Friday against the Islanders on Long Island or on Sunday when the Wings host the Calgary Flames.
"I anticipate Hronek being out Friday and Sunday." Blashill said. "You guys saw the shot. It could have been worse for sure and thankfully it's not worse."
When asked if the Red Wings are considering calling up defenseman Moritz Seider from Grand Rapids, depending on Hronek's condition, Blashill was quick to respond.
"Nothing in the immediate future," Blashill said. "I'm not saying it won't happen at some point."
LINDSTROM SETTLES IN:There is a simple edict when it comes to selecting players in the NHL Entry Draft. If you like a player and he's available -- take him.
When the Red Wings drafted Gustav Lindstrom in the second round, 38th overall, in the 2017 NHL Entry Draft, there was a minor shockwave which rippled through the draft gurus assembled at Chicago's United Center.
Many believed the 6-foot-2, 190-pound defenseman was taken far too early in the draft.
But the Red Wings felt otherwise.
Detroit had heard the scuttlebutt that the relatively unknown Lindstrom wasn't a draft-day secret, many teams were high on the Swedish rearguard and as soon as the Wings selected him, several teams made their way over to Detroit's draft table to tell them they had Lindstrom on their board, but they thought they could pluck him in a later round.
It appears the Wings made the right decision by taking Lindstrom when they did.
After spending two years playing in Sweden, Lindstrom decided to play in North America this season and began the year in Grand Rapids playing for the AHL's Griffins.
In 45 games played for the Griffins, Lindstrom recorded five assists, was minus-12 and had accumulated 26 penalty minutes, but just before Christmas, he turned his game around, which earned him the call-up to the Wings, and on Feb. 6, he made NHL debut in Buffalo against the Sabres.
Since his arrival, Lindstrom has impressed the Wings brass and his teammates with his calm demeanor and good decision-making. He hasn't looked out of place on the ice.
"I am happy with the way I played so far; I've played solid hockey my first games here," Lindstrom said on Tuesday after the Wings' optional morning skate. "I am starting to get more and more comfortable out there too, so I am happy so far."
Though he's played well since the call-up, Lindstrom admits he was both surprised and not surprised when he was told he was headed to Detroit.
"I felt like the last 10 games before I got called up in GR, I played really well, but I felt like if I did get called up, it would be a little bit later," Lindstrom said. "So it was a little bit of a shock, but it was a fun call and I've enjoyed my time here."
Lindstrom turned 21 in November and since he's over 20, he is not limited in the number of games he can play before the first year of his contract kicks in. There isn't a nine-game maximum like there is for some of his teammates who are 18 or 19.
Blashill was asked if Lindstrom has shown enough to continue to stay with the Red Wings.
"The one thing about decisions is this is a day-to-day business," Blashill said. "As of today, he's going to practice with us tomorrow (Thursday) and play on Friday and I don't anticipate anything different. You just live it day-by-day; as long as he's earning minutes and doing a good job and helping the team, then it makes sense for him to be here.
"At some point if he wasn't earning minute or his minutes got diminished, if he was really struggling or not helping the team, then you look at sending him down. So far he's done a pretty good job.
"He passes the puck well. He's smart and he's competitive. The only times he gets into any trouble at all is when he can't dictate his own gap and that's something he'll keep working on and build as he continues throughout the rest of this year and into next year."
Like Blashill, Lindstrom is taking it day by day as the Wings haven't told him whether he'll be in Detroit for the remainder of the season or he'll be sent down to Grand Rapids, but he's not too concerned either way.
"I don't care actually," he said. "I just come here every day and do my best and see how it's going. I just came here and tried to play the same way I did in GR this season, not change anything, make good passes and play hard and strong in the D zone, just be the same player."
He believes the NHL and the AHL are similar in a lot ways, but he's certainly had to adjust his play since he's been with the Wings.
"Maybe a little faster in the neutral zone and they are so good around the net. Sometimes it's hard to defend when they switch positions, it's a little bit different (than the AHL)," Lindstrom said. "Some teams are so good at forechecking, it makes it harder, but it's the same in the American League, but of course the game is a little bit different.
"The best players are so good here, it's hard to play against them, but I have the same feeling out there as I have with GR, the ice is still the same."
One aspect of his game which will not change is how calm he is when he's on the ice, regardless of the situation.
"Things that have happened (on the ice) you cannot change them, I just try and be positive all the time and be happy," Lindstrom said. "If you have a mistake, you can't change it, so I just focus on the next shift, that's how I am."
In eight games with the Red Wings, Lindstrom is still looking for his first career NHL point. He is minus-7, has been assessed 10 penalty minutes, registered 10 hits, blocked six shots and averaged 16:28 in ice time.