Filip Zadina, "3 years" and 176 pro games later, where is he at atm?

[ForsbergForever]

Every top 10 pick will be given at least the 3 years of their entry-level contract to prove themselves. So if simply playing games in the NHL is the criteria, virtually no top pick has ever busted. Teams hate to admit they got it wrong until they have to, so Zadina is being force-fed opportunities, even if he lacks the talent to make the most of them.

 

[Czechboy]

2 goals, 2 assists in his 'comeback tour' which is 6 games and 1 period old.

Detroit did bench him, they lost that game. Zadina is the KEY to all of Detroit's Success!lol

Just having some fun but tonights goal was a pure snipe and the clip started with him hustling like hell.

 

[JediOrderPizza]

2 goals, 2 assists in his 'comeback tour' which is 6 games and 1 period old.

Detroit did bench him, they lost that game. Zadina is the KEY to all of Detroit's Success!lol

Just having some fun but tonights goal was a pure snipe and the clip started with him hustling like hell.

We won the game he sat tho.

 

[Czechboy]

We won the game he sat tho.

Well then that loss was definitely on him!lol

Thanks for the correction.. I think it was Vrana that was benched and I'm confusing my malingned and benched Detroit Czechs.

 

[Reddwit]

Tonight’s goal from Zadina might be his first NHL goal where he actually picked a corner and nailed it.

 

[Reddwit]

2 goals, 2 assists in his 'comeback tour' which is 6 games and 1 period old.

Detroit did bench him, they lost that game. Zadina is the KEY to all of Detroit's Success!lol

Just having some fun but tonights goal was a pure snipe and the clip started with him hustling like hell.

A lot of Zadina’s chances start that way. They rarely end in anything worth highlighting though.

And we won the game where he was benched.

But overall, yeah, he’s been a pleasant surprise since his return. Tonight’s goal from him felt really good. Not sure if it’s a sign of things to come, it’d be a pretty amazing turnaround for him if it went that way, but who knows? He wouldn’t be the first guy to look much better under Lalonde than under Blashill either.

 

[KJoe88]

I still won’t give up on him. I’m seeing a late bloomer

 

[Czechboy]

Still a Red Wing... I really didn't think that would be the case. I was hoping to see his name on the trade list yesterday.

Also, still in the NHL and not in Europe.lmao Shocking development for a guy on year 1 of his 3 year NHL contract that pays more than anything he'd get anywhere in Europe.

I've liked his play lately to be honest. 5 points in his 11 games since returning from a injury. That's probably close to what he'll be near his peak... .5ppg or a 40 point guy. I was hoping he'd be teamed with Vrana and that'd get him going.. guess not.lol

 

[Hockeyville USA]

He's a bust. Green Jacket favorite, can't score, looks like a filler player out there most of the time.

 

[OKR]

At one point at Red Wings he was looking much better than you would think from his production, now he has regressed to being just a dud all-around.

 

[Peasy]

Lookin like he probably shouldnt have given away millions and bet on himself.

 

[Volica]

I know there was opportunity at ice time in San Jose... but man, that team is dog shit. Middling prospects trying to find themselves need to put themselves in a position to succeed and this ain't it. Not taking away from the fact he's likely a bust, but a lot of these guys sort of don't think these things through.

 

[WarriorofTime]

Huge bust, not much to say, for a guy who was projected as the top forward in '18 Draft and the top '99 born forward in the world (ahead of Hischier who was viewed as a weaker number 1) for some years prior to, then fell to 6th in the Draft, he's just had a very consistent downward trajectory and is unlikely to remain in North America.

 

[That Habs Fan]

What a horrid draft 2018 was.

 

[Hockeyville USA]

What a horrid draft 2018 was.

Yep. Most drafts have an absolute steal in the 3rd round and the best so far from 2018 has been Dostal. Additionally, the CHLers from this draft were entering the A during the pandemic. Pandemic affected pro development for all of these guys, but the draft wasn't looking special regardless.

 

[Artorius Horus T]

2016 draft -> to today (top 10) bust "all-star" ?

Alexander Nylander (8)
Nolan Patrick (2)*
Filip Zadina (6)

Olli Juolevi (5)
Philip Broberg (8)

Spencer Knight

* injuries though, i thought of putting Tyson Jost instead
i know, jesse puljujärvi.. instead nylander, but Alexander was hyped to be better what Willy
or adam boqvist, instead of broberg

 

[tgo0]

Yep. Most drafts have an absolute steal in the 3rd round and the best so far from 2018 has been Dostal. Additionally, the CHLers from this draft were entering the A during the pandemic. Pandemic affected pro development for all of these guys, but the draft wasn't looking special regardless.

Pffft…. Just a no name goalie.

 

[rubenflamshep]

He was just pretty good in the Q combined with the fact it seems to be weaker league was a bit ominous.

He never really transitioned his game into anything elite in the AHL, for reference, Nylander and Kadri were both 95+ percentile point producers.

And then finally in the NHL, he's just been average to below-average. Ironically, one of his comparables is Alexander Daigle. End of the day he's an NHL player but Detroit definitely hoped to get more out of him than a middle 6 forward.

 

[Cas]

He's one of the most irrelevantly pointless players on one of the worst teams in recent memory. We got more out of Jonathan Dahlen and didn't bother to qualify him. Zadina goes back to Europe this summer.

 

[Bizz]

Zadina has been given just about every opportunity to succeed on a rebuilding team and he has done absolutely nothing to show that he's worth keeping around. I'm just glad we weren't the ones to blow a top-10 pick on him. He's confirmed his bust status.

 

[Jee]

Zadi-hell-nah

 

[saska sault]

Its unfortunate for him, he doesn't seem like a bad kid or that he lacks effort.. he just doesn't have it. Classic example of being able to cruise through junior hockey and not figure out the next step. It's not uncommon, how many kids from world junior teams over the year have barely sniffed the NHL over the years. Hope he picks it up the last half of the season and earns another shot with someone. Also thanks Ken Holland, loser.

 

[Crazy Cizikas]

Pffft…. Just a no name goalie.

I hear that this guy just beat Toronto with a lot of saves. Is he a Zamboni driver?

 

[MCR74]

Has he filled the opposing team's net yet?

 

[WarriorofTime]

Yep. Most drafts have an absolute steal in the 3rd round and the best so far from 2018 has been Dostal. Additionally, the CHLers from this draft were entering the A during the pandemic. Pandemic affected pro development for all of these guys, but the draft wasn't looking special regardless.

I think it's less so COVID and more so the '99 and '00 birth years being an uncharacteristically bad two year stretch in Canada particularly, which is always the number 1 producer of NHL talent.