BOCA RATON, Fla. -- Marek Zidlicky has fit in so well with the Detroit Red Wings since being acquired on March 2 that it wouldn't be a surprise to see general manager Ken Holland try to re-sign the veteran defenseman before he becomes an unrestricted free agent on July 1.
Zidlicky has seven points on three goals and four assists in seven games with the Red Wings.
"There's no doubt certainly it's a possibility," Holland said Tuesday from the general managers' meetings. "Now the player has to weigh in."
Holland indicated the possibility exists for the Red Wings to try to re-sign forward Erik Cole, who they also acquired on March 2, but Zidlicky in particularly has filled a big hole as a right-handed shooting defenseman who could quarterback Detroit's power play.
The only right-handed shooting defenseman the Red Wings had prior to Zidlicky was rookie Alexey Marchenko. Holland called Zidlicky a perfect fit.
"That's what we were looking for last summer, a right shot that could play the power play and could shoot the puck," Holland said. "Zidlicky does all those things, and he plays the style of game that we play.
"[Red Wings development coach] Jiri Fischer was his partner at the 2005 World Championships when they won the gold, beat Canada. I was on Canada's management team. We've always been watching from afar to see if Zidlicky would hit the open market based upon our pro scouts and based upon Jiri Fischer's relationship, and he always re-upped. We had an opportunity to acquire him, we pulled the trigger, and he's been a great fit in the early going."
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