Right winger Filip Zadina is expected to attend training camp with the Sabres on a professional tryout agreement, reports Pavel Barta of Denik Sport.
Zadina, 25 in November, has never made the impact most expected when the Red Wings selected him sixth overall in the 2018 draft. Until 2023, Zadina had mediocre results in a bottom-six role with Detroit, consistently shooting well below 10 percent and posting average possession metrics.
Over those five seasons, he made 190 appearances for Detroit with 68 points, 0.36 per game. His -51 rating, 7.4 percent shooting rate and 0.62 hits per game were nothing to write home about, although he did manage to keep his head above water defensively with a 0.2 relative CF% at even strength.
After being released by the Red Wings last summer via a mutual contract termination, walking away from over $4.5M in salary, he landed a one-year, $1.1M deal with the Sharks.
Nothing changed for the Czech winger in San Jose, though. Without much of a supporting cast, he did manage to score a career-high 13 goals in 72 games, but his 23 points fell one short of his best mark with Detroit and his -44 rating was the worst of his career while averaging a conservative 13:20 per game.
Most blame can be placed on the team’s porous defense and inconsistent goaltending, but Zadina’s 43.3 CF% and 39.0 xGF% at even strength were below the team average.
As such, the Sharks opted not to issue him a qualifying offer when his deal expired this summer, making him an unrestricted free agent for the second year. Still, without a contract, Zadina isn’t giving up on an NHL dream, fishing for PTO offers rather than heading to Europe.
For the Sabres, it’s a sensible low-risk option for some depth scoring with professional experience. He has strong numbers in the minors, last posting 16 points in 21 games with the AHL’s Grand Rapids Griffins in 2019-2020. He also had a strong showing with Czechia’s HC Ocelari Trinec in 2020-2021 while on loan during the pandemic, scoring eight goals and 14 points in 17 games. His shooting percentage continuously drying up upon reaching the NHL remains an enigma.
If Zadina lands a deal out of camp, it’ll likely be a two-way pact. After the Sabres reshaped their forward corps this summer with a specific eye on filling out their bottom six, there isn’t a clear roster spot for him if he signs. He’ll likely land on waivers and begin the season with their AHL affiliate, the Rochester Americans. There, he’ll play alongside Buffalo’s crop of next-wave players and compete for call-ups with other depth wingers like Jiri Kulich, Isak Rosen and Lukas Rousek.
This article first appeared on Pro Hockey Rumors and was syndicated with permission.
Zadina's Search for a New Home
After one season with the San Jose Sharks, 24-year-old forward Filip Zadina is still searching for a new contract in the NHL. It’s the late stages of summer, but multiple teams are beginning to express interest in the Czech native.
According to ESPN’s Kevin Weekes, at least three teams have been in contact with Zadina. A previous report stated that Zadina signed a professional tryout offer with the Buffalo Sabres, but that was refuted by Lance Lysowski of the Buffalo News.
A Potential New Start
Per my sources, there are as many as 3 clubs in discussions for F Zadina at this time. #HockeyX pic.twitter.com/xNWJvoMxHz
Zadina’s agent, Darren Ferris told Lysowski that there is an ongoing process to get him signed to an NHL deal. No specific team was listed but something is brewing around Zadina.
Looking Back at Zadina's Career
Heading into the 2023-24 season, Zadina signed a one-year deal with the Sharks worth $1.1 million. He was set to be a restricted free agent at the end of the contract, but the Sharks didn’t tender a qualifying offer making him a rare young unrestricted free agent.
In his one season with the Sharks, Zadina played 72 games and scored 23 points (13G-10A). That may not seem like much, but the Sharks were the NHL’s worst team and 23 points was enough to be tied for sixth-most on the roster.
Before joining the Sharks, Zadina played parts of five seasons with the Detroit Red Wings. In 190 games with the Red Wings, he posted 68 points (28G-40A) and hit a minus-51 rating.
The Red Wings selected Zadina with the sixth overall pick in the 2018 NHL Draft. He debuted during the 2018-19 season playing nine games and scoring three points.
Ahead of the 2023-24 season, Zadina and the Red Wings agreed to terminate his contract with two years remaining. That’s when the Sharks signed him to a one-year deal.
The Future is Uncertain
In 262 career games in the NHL, Zadina has 41 goals and 50 assists for 91 total points. A new deal appears to be around the corner for the former top-10 draft pick. Maybe a third team can get his best efforts.
NICK HORWAT
