Detroit Red Wings: Predicting the line combinations for 2021-22
By Bob Heyrman
Predicting the Detroit Red Wings second line to begin the 2021-22 season.
The Detroit Red Wings have lacked depth and, for the most part, top-tier scoring since the tandem of Pavel Datsyuk and Henrik Zetterberg expired.
This past offseason, Yzerman signed Pius Suter, who enjoyed an excellent rookie campaign last year with the Chicago Blackhawks.
Suter joined the NHL after enjoying six seasons in Switzerland with Zurich SC. The 25-year old center notched 14 goals totaling 27 points in his first NHL season. Suter averaged 16:20 minutes per game for the Jonathan Toews-less Blackhawks.
Yzerman and the Red Wings hope Suter brings much-needed stability to the second line and the center position behind Larkin in 2021-22.
Robby Fabbri quickly built chemistry with Suter during the preseason and will flank Suter on the left side to begin the new season. Fabbri will start the season on the wing but can play center if injuries occur.
Fabbri is coming off a marvelous season where he recorded ten goals and totaled 18 points in just 30 games. Injuries and COVID-19 limited Fabbri’s availability last season, but if he remains healthy should be poised to score 20 goals in a season for the first time in his young career.
Filip Zadina should be penciled in as the right-winger on Detroit’s second line playing alongside Fabbri and Suter.
2021-22 will be a massive year for Zadina. The Detroit Red Wings hope Zadina can finally turn the corner and become the imposing scoring winger they hoped he’d be when they drafted him 6th overall in the 2018 NHL Entry Level Draft.
Last season, Zadina scored just six goals in 49 games and had amassed 15 total goals through his first 86 NHL games spanning over the past three years.
Detroit Red Wings second line prediction: Pius Suter (C), Robby Fabbri (LW), Filip Zadina (RW).