Filip Zadina is going to stick around the Wings system for a little longer. After being placed on waivers Monday, no NHL teams claimed him.
Zadina clears
— Elliotte Friedman (@FriedgeHNIC) July 4, 2023
Zadina was placed on waivers after GM Steve Yzerman said the 23-year-old Czech winger requested a fresh start through his agent before the 2023 NHL Draft. The Athletic’s Max Bultman pointed out yesterday that Yzerman still had confidence in Zadina being an NHL player and may have a chance to earn his way back on to the roster:
Yzerman still believe Zadina can become a valuable NHL player, references Eeli Tolvanen as an example of a player who it found it later. He would still like for that growth to happen in Detroit. And if he clears, Yzerman still sees him as part of the future, tho has to earn spot
— Max Bultman (@m_bultman) July 3, 2023
I’m taking Yzerman’s words with a grain of salt. If Zadina requested a change of scenery then it would suggest he is not interested in having to earn a spot on Detroit’s roster. So, if an NHL team wasn’t interested in taking his contract (two years left with an AAV of $1.825 million) for free, I have a tough time seeing where Zadina will end up in the NHL.
There’s always the idea of putting him in Grand Rapids, though I am not convinced Zadina would be open to that at this point. But after no NHL teams would take him off waivers and Yzerman expressing that he needs to earn his way back onto the roster.. Kinda seems like Zadina is in for a wake-up call. We’ll see how this unfolds as we get closer to training camp.
