Notebook: Blashill talks Red Wings defense; Larkin doesn't skate Thursday

As important as it is to have dangerous offensive players, Detroit Red Wings head coach Jeff Blashill knows having reliable blueliners is equally important to the Red Wings playing a winning brand of hockey.
In his rookie season, Moritz Seider has been a big part of Detroit's success. With the most assists (32) and third-most points (37) among NHL rookies and a growing reputation for his sound defensive game, opponents are starting to take notice of Detroit's German defenseman.

"I've been watching him a lot lately, because you hear the buzz around the league between him and (Lucas) Raymond, up for rookie of the year, both of them very skilled and very good players, unique players," Colorado Avalanche coach Jared Bednar said Wednesday night. "Seider stands out to me because he's a big guy, great puck mover, he has a physicality to his game."
For Blashill, Seider also provides valuable lineup versatility. This season, Nick Leddy, Marc Staal and Danny DeKeyser have all skated opposite Seider.
"Seids is developing into a really good player, and the really good players can play with lots of different partners," Blashill said. "They certainly don't need a partner to carry them."

Seider's dependability has given Blashill the ability to continually test defensive pairs.
"We've had an opportunity for Seids, whose played with a number of guys now, and I don't think it's the biggest deal," Blashill said. "We can kind of flip those guys in and out a little bit. I would say it's more matchups, how guys are playing, things like that."

Zadina's past and present success

Filip Zadina has gone head-to-head against the Colorado Avalanche less than a handful of times in his career, and has made his presence felt each time out.
Zadina put the Red Wings on the board with his seventh goal of the season during the second period of Detroit's 5-2 loss to the Avs on Wednesday night.

For his career, Zadina has four points in four games against Colorado. His confidence has risen since being added to Detroit's top line.
"It's been great to play with those guys (Dylan Larkin and Lucas Raymond)," Zadina said. "Especially for me, I do feel way comfortable with them, way confident. It's been great."

Larkin takes 'maintenance day' Thursday

Despite playing nearly 20 minutes (19:54) and tallying a pair of assists on Wednesday against Colorado, Larkin did not practice Thursday.
"I can't sit here today and say for sure he's playing Saturday, I don't know that," Blashill said. "We felt it was best to keep him off today."

Griffins heating up in late February

The Grand Rapids Griffins (21-19-5-2) have won three straight games, including a two-game weekend sweep over the Central Division rival Rockford IceHogs.
The Griffins scored 10 goals on the weekend, getting tallies from five different skaters in consecutive 5-2 victories.
Grand Rapids recorded a 2-1 overtime win over the Cleveland Monsters for its second straight road victory on Wednesday. The Griffins are 4-2 in February, and are 11-10-1-1 overall away from Van Andel Arena.