Notebook: Stecher could return Saturday; Zadina contributes on top line

After practice on Friday, there was a growing sense of belief that Detroit Red Wings defenseman Troy Stecher could return to the lineup against the Philadelphia Flyers for Saturday's matinee at Little Caesars Arena.
Stecher has been sidelined since Nov. 4, 2021, with a wrist injury that required surgery. The 27-year-old is ready to get back on the ice and contribute to Detroit's defensive corps.

"I've been out for three months. All I really want to do is play hockey," Stecher said. "My whole focus is trying to get healthy and get back in the lineup, and that's all I really care about."

According to Stecher, one of the early keys to re-assimilating will be the mental aspect.
"Biggest thing for me, I think, would be mentally just kind of getting around the whole thing of going through that surgery," Stecher said. "It's not going to feel like it's 100 percent, even though the strength and the range of motion are there. You just kind of mentally have to get around that and trust all the work that you've done, trust all the training staff and all the work they've put in, I'd say that."
Stecher's return to the lineup will come at an opportune time if he is cleared, according to Red Wings coach Jeff Blashill.
"If he's able to get cleared today, the timing of it for the hockey team works out really well," Blashill said. "Missing two guys, probably with (Filip) Hronek and (Nick) Leddy. We've talked about depth and the importance of depth, and I think that's a time where it would show up."

Zadina continues skating with Red Wings top line

Aside from winning games, nailing down line combinations is something the Detroit Red Wings coaching staff tinkers with on a regular basis.
Making those decisions involves a myriad of factors, including versatility and compete level.
"We talk as a coaching staff sometimes, 'Will this boost this person's game?' I think it then starts by doing things the right way and if they're doing it the right way," Blashill said. "So, what's the right way? The right way is you have to be a solid 200-foot player. You gotta be good defensively.
"You gotta work like crazy. You gotta backcheck like crazy. You gotta work on the forecheck. You gotta win puck battles. When you start doing those things, then it's easier to give guys the opportunity to maybe boost their confidence by boosting them up the lineup."
In Detroit's 6-3 win over Philadelphia, Filip Zadina skated on the top line and finished with a plus-1 rating in 13:42 minutes of ice time.

Whether the Red Wings' forward lines shuffle again will be determined on Saturday. But no matter where Blashill slots him in, Zadina is confident he will continue to make an impact.
"At this point, I don't put any pressure on me. I'm just playing hockey," Zadina said. "There were some ups and downs this season for sure, so I'm not taking pressure to put on my shoulders, just want to play the sport I've been playing since I was a kid. Just want to play hockey, have fun and the opportunity I got to play with those guys, I just gotta do my best and enjoy the time with them."

Hronek enters COVID protocol, Blashill updates Leddy's status

The Red Wings announced that defenseman Filip Hronek was placed in the NHL's COVID-19 protocol on Thursday.
Hronek, who hasn't sat out a game since Oct. 24, will miss at least five days.
On Friday, Blashill said he does not anticipate Nick Leddy will be available against the Flyers on Saturday. The defenseman has missed two straight games with an upper-body injury.

'Duel in the D' set for Saturday at Little Caesars Arena

Fans of Hockeytown are in for a busy Saturday at Little Caesars Arena.
Following the Red Wings versus Flyers game at Noon, college hockey returns to Little Caesars Arena for the "Duel in the D" when the Michigan and Michigan State men's ice hockey teams add another chapter in their historic rivalry and clash for the "Iron D" Trophy at 7 p.m.
The game will mark the 336th all-time meeting between the historic programs, with Michigan currently holding a 172-138-24 edge in the all-time series.