Thats pretty bad team with Nielsen and Helm as you 2C and 3C. And Zadina would play..

With Z gone Detroit will fill a 23 man roster, I think Zadia makes the roster. But i wouldn't be hurt if he does spend one season in GR though.

I think Zadina could get a 9 game try out at the beginning of the season, If he looks good he could stay if not go to GR.

At least try Nyquist or Athanasiou at center in the #2 spot, and move Nielson to 3C, where he would be better suited.
Talent wise Zadina should play.
Development wise he should return to junior or AHL depending on his age.
CBJ were notorious for rushing high picks (who weren't even as talented as Z) and they just faded out into oblivion.

Blashill has stated that Athanasiou will be the third center. Helm will be on the wing.

You’re right, I just see Blash swapping him out as well. I think depending on AA’s play at center as well as the compitition, AA will swap to Neilsens wing.

Personally, I’d love to see Z on the first line with Larkin and Mantha; I think if Larkin progresses from last year than that line would be very exciting to watch. But I completely agree with you on development, and that’s why I think it would be better for him and the team if he spent a year in GR polishing some edges.

As long as they don’t blow his rookie season. I’d like to see him come in, blow up the opposing net, and pull away with the Calder.

I think Zadina makes opening day roster, based on the fact that Zetterberg is probably done for the whole season. He usually plays RW I believe, so it will be interesting to see where he is inserted into the lineup. I do agree that a year in Grand Rapids wouldn't hurt his development, and bringing Svechnikov up to the NHL instead of being in the AHL for another year would be better for him.

as bad as the forwards look atleast theres room for some growth their. larkin is probably the player hes going to be now but mantha and aa and bertuzzi can still grow. plus maybe rass and zadina who I think makes this line up can chip in. the blueline is really the scary part. idk if any of the young dmen can make a difference but the 6 we have coming back are just not good. Old and tired and yeah green and daley have some life left and maybe are fringe second pair guys but Kronwall and ericsson are bottom pair at best. idk what to say about dekeyser. he looked ok 2 seasons in and then nothing. I can help but think hes has regressed more from a lack of quality coaching. we haven't brought a top 4 defenseman into the league in years.

I think Larkin still has room to grow. He can get better in the faceoff as well as being better defensively, especially as he will be facing higher levels of competition this year with Zetterberg out. Mantha can be more consistent and Bertuzzi has to find his place in the lineup; Is he a top 6 or a bottom 6 forward? I think the jury is still out on him. I'm still unsure about Athanasiou's growth. He has flashes, but they are too far and few between. Detroit's defense is definitely one of the worst, if not THE worst, in the league. Which I consider that an asset at this point. Detroit has a couple defense prospects that I can see growing into a top-four role in Cholowski, Hronek, Lindstrom, and McIssac. However, Detroit needs game changers on defense, and they get them by drafting top five to ten for a couple more years. These aging defenseman we have will all be off the books in two to three years and Detroit can slowly bolster the back end with these prospects. So if Detroit is losing games because their defense is terrible I say great. Get higher draft positions for the next couple years. Draft a top 2 defenceman and sign another and they are set. Dekeyser to me is an enigma. I really hope he can turn his game around and be the player he was two to three years ago.

Same here, That would sweet.

The defense is abysmal, and worse yet, there doesn’t seem to be any prospect who projects as a sure fire top line guy. I’m more optimistic with the forward group though; Larkin isn’t yet a top line center but he’s not far off, and I think he will develop into one in the next year or two. After him though you are right, there ‘currently’ isn’t much depth at center but Ras or AA both could fit the bill as well as Veleno in another year or two. Mantha and Zadina should be studs and Svechnikov can still progress to be a 2nd line guy (he’ll at least be a third liner). Another year in the lottery should also produce a prospect or two.