GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. - This was not how Filip Zadina envisioned the start of his rookie year.
Instead of being with the Red Wings, the team's top draft pick was down in the AHL, playing for Grand Rapids. He was in uniform Monday morning for the team's first practice of the year.
"Every single guy from the draft wants to be on the team for the beginning of the season but they sent me down. It's not the end of the world." said Zadina, who was told over the weekend he had been assigned to the AHL level.
The 18-year-old Zadina is coming off a preseason in which he scored two goals and added an assist in seven games for Detroit. He was told he needed to play with more confidence. He tried to stay positive today about the assignment but there was no denying he was disappointed by the decision. Still he knows he has to make improvement and the sooner he does, the sooner he is back in the NHL.
"I'm a good player," said Zadina. "For sure, I got to be better."
The Griffins open up the year Friday at Texas.
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