Detroit — In a perfect hockey world the Red Wings would have preferred to let defenseman Filip Hronek gradually adapt to the NHL.
Let him play a little less, learn on the job accordingly, and then take on bigger roles with increased responsibility.
But, the Red Wings didn’t have that luxury. The way the roster was constructed the past several seasons, Hronek had to learn on the job.
For the long term, however, Hronek’s development might actually work out just fine.
Last week’s announcement of a three-year contract agreement with Hronek, a restricted free agent, worth $13.2 million ($4.4 million salary cap hit) signals the importance Hronek has now and moving forward.
Hronek, who’ll turn 24 in November, might be just approaching his potential as a top-pairing defenseman who can play in any role, and do it very well.
“He’s been forced to really trial by fire and he’s been thrown into the mix, and it’s hard to do,” coach Jeff Blashill said late last season. “You don’t have a veteran defenseman who can carry you as you make some mistakes, and he’s had to sink or swim on a nightly basis.
“(But) enough nights, he’s swam.”
Hronek led the Wings with 26 points last season and 24 assists, including 11 points (all assists) on the power play. Interestingly, Hronek’s two goals on the season were both length of the ice empty-net power-play goals.
Hronek and fellow defenseman Marc Staal were the only two Wings to play all 56 games in the compressed and challenging season, Hronek overcoming some late-season aches and pains to play every game.
“A solid season,” said Blashill, when asked to analyze Hronek’s body of work. “I don’t think any of us can claim we’ve had a great year. We’re not good enough in the standings. But he’s done a solid season.”
All told, Hronek averaged a team-leading 23 minutes, 23 seconds of ice time, just off the 2019-20 season’s 23:54 average.
The Wings’ plan was to slice some of that ice time to help Hronek not wear down over the compressed season.
But, the ice time points to Hronek’s importance, playing on both on the power play and penalty kill, and predominately facing the opponent’s top forwards.
“He’s grown and Filip wants to be a good player, wants to win, so he’s working (toward that) and in all areas of the game, the power play, penalty kill, 5-on-5,” Blashill said. “There are areas of growth and he knows what he needs to keep working on.
“It’s just growing as a player and he certainly has taken steps from when he first got here.”
Also, given Hronek’s playing time and responsibility against talented scoring forwards, Hronek’s need to be focused and safe is amplified.
Blashill and his coaching staff has stressed to Hronek the need to be keen on the defensive end.
“Him and I have talked about making sure that he eliminates any big minuses,” Blashill said. “You just can’t be a team that gives away easy (scoring) chances. So make sure on a consistent basis, night to night (not allowing those chances). He’s done a good job of not giving away easy chances. Certainly, the other team is going to create their own enough; we can’t give them away and that’s just the growth of the hockey team in general.
“He’s certainly taken steps from when he first got here, but like all of us, if we want to be a better hockey team the individuals on that team have to continue to grow.”
Blashill has consistently, over Hronek’s first two full seasons, praised Hronek’s competitive nature on the ice.
Hronek’s abrasive nature on the ice, and ability to get under the skin of certain players — Boston’s equally abrasive Brad Marchand comes to mind — is part of Hronek’s effectiveness.
“Fil is a tremendous competitor, a good hockey player, he’s really competed hard,” Blashill said. “He’s going to try to fight to be on the ice as much as he can. He’s going to go out and play as well as possible.”
During his end-of-season press conference, general manager Steve Yzerman singled out Hronek and forward Michael Rasmussen as two young players who progressed over last season.
“I see a difference in their play from a year ago,” Yzerman said. “They are having more of an impact in each situation they’re in. They’re not regressing. You can see when guys are really competing and asserting themselves, regardless of what their statistics are, and they are having a positive impact.”
ted.kulfan@detroitnews.com
Twitter: @tkulfan