Prior to the 2018 NHL Draft, Filip Zadina was ranked third in the final Central Scouting rankings of North American skaters, behind Andrei Svechnikov (1) and Brady Tkachuk (2). Svechnikov was subsequently drafted second overall by the Carolina Hurricanes, while Brady Tkachuk was selected two spots later, fourth overall, by the Ottawa Senators. Both players have developed into some of the best young players in the game. For Zadina, the path to NHL success has been tougher.
Zadina was ultimately selected sixth overall by the Detroit Red Wings. Having played with the Halifax Mooseheads of the QMJHL the season prior to the draft, Zadina quickly turned professional, playing for the Grand Rapids Griffins, the Red Wings’ AHL affiliate. Zadina appeared in 59 games with the Griffins, scoring 16 goals and 35 points. A solid performance in the AHL earned him nine appearances with the Red Wings.
Over his next four seasons with the Red Wings, Zadina never developed into the player the Red Wings expected when they drafted him sixth overall. After missing most of the 2022-2023 season with a lower-body injury that limited him to just 30 games, Red Wings GM Steve Yzerman decided to part ways with the young forward. In July 2023, the Red Wings waived Zadina, who eventually cleared waivers. Just two days later, the Red Wings placed Zadina on unconditional waivers, this time with the intent to opt out of his contract. Zadina cleared waivers and became a UFA for the first time in his young career.
Just a few days later, Zadina signed a one-year, $1.1 million deal with the San Jose Sharks. Zadina scored a career-high 13 goals with San Jose last season, but despite the career-high in goals, Sharks general manager Mike Grier did not extend Zadina a qualifying offer, making him a UFA.
RELATED: The Knights will need big contributions from Victor Olofsson and Alexander Holtz to make up for lost production.
As September approaches, ESPN’s Kevin Weeks is reporting that Zadina is close to signing with an NHL team.
Zadina, 24, is looking to prove he can still be a top-six forward with goal-scoring ability at the NHL level after two failed attempts to prove he can reach his full potential.
Weeks did not reveal which teams Zadina and his agent, Dan Ferris, are in talks with, but it may be worth considering the Vegas Golden Knights to bring Zadina to their team.
The Knights lost forwards Jonathan Marchessault, Chandler Stephenson, Anthony Mantha, Michael Amadio and William Carrier when free agency opened on July 1. The Knights, known for making big noises when it comes to big contracts and trades, did not fill the holes left by Marchessault and Stephenson in particular with players that fans would call suitable replacements. General manager Kelly McCrimmon instead opted to acquire Victor Olofsson and Alexander Holtz, low-risk, high-reward players.
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Signing Zadina or bringing him to camp on a PTO would be a similar acquisition to Olofsson or Holtz, but it’s unlikely they’ll get a difference-maker at this point in the offseason. Zadina, while struggling, is a player with the potential to score goals given the right opportunities and linemates. Prior to being selected in his draft year, Zadina was described in scouting reports as a pure, talented goal scorer.
He has a great release and a very strong wrist shot. Combining this with his skating and power game makes him a real threat from the wing. He’s an absolute sniper and can score with wrist shots, snap shots, slap shots and one-timers.
At just 24 years old, Zadina has plenty of time to develop into a top-six player capable of scoring 20-plus goals at the NHL level, so if the Golden Knights are looking to acquire another promising player and take a gamble on Zadina, it could pay off in a big way.