Feb 27, 2021; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Detroit Red Wings forward Evgeny Svechnikov (37) and Chicago Blackhawks defenseman Ian Mitchell (51) fight for the puck during the third period at the United Center. Mandatory Credit: Dennis Wierzbicki-USA TODAY Sports
The Detroit Red Wings signed 2020 draft pick Donovan Sebrango to an entry-level deal Sunday evening. The 19-year-old defenseman played in Slovakia before coming back to play for Grand Rapids. Originally slated to play another season in the OHL, Sebrango showed enough to warrant the three year deal that begins next season.
It’s good news to see another one of Steve Yzerman’s draft picks take steps forward.
Meanwhile:
Red Wings’ Postgame
A few notes from this:
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- His comments on Filip Zadina sounds like he’s now in the circle of trust. Zadina had two chances to make a play and instead both went the other way shorthanded on an odd man rush. The latter turned into a goal.
- Regarding Anthony Mantha, Blashill said that when he’s “feeling good about his game, good things happen.” Which can be said about most human beings, but in this case, it was widely known that Mantha was very much a more cerebral player when it came to hot and cold streaks.
- Dylan Larkin added that Mantha seems to be moving his feet a little more and commented on how he’s been shooting more as well. Good. The more Mantha shoots the pucks, the better chance we see of him hitting the goal threshold we all thought he would be at.
What’s With Svechnikov?
Notably absent in the 2-1 loss to Carolina was the lack of offensive firepower. Could Evgeny Svechnikov have helped?
Back in Grand Rapids after being a point-per-game player, it’s bizarre that a team who is hit or miss with its offense would send a guy back who was producing and bringing energy to each game. It’s no disrespect to the older veterans like Darren Helm, but not much is going to be generated there. I’m also a huge fan of the 11/7 but I can think of at least four other players I’d rather see in the lineup at this point than Helm. He was a crucial player during stretches of his Red Wings career, but that ship has sailed. Maybe they’re trying to audition him for another team at the deadline, but I can’t imagine there being a lot of interest there outside of needing a specialist for the penalty kill.
One other underlying question: what does this mean for Svechnikov’s future in Detroit? Playing four games with four points and yet then being sent back down after two healthy scratches seems to be yet another example of the writing being on the wall. Perhaps Yzerman just doesn’t have a lot of room for Kenny’s picks outside of the ones already entrenched in the lineup.
We’ll probably know more when the trade deadline arrives.