Waived: Zadina (Clears) - Contract Terminated, Signs with SJS

[jaster]

There are GMs who do dumb things, but if the guy is agreeing to terminate his contract because he doesn't want to play in the AHL, I can't imagine there's a GM dumb enough to sign him to a two-way deal, where he would make even less in the AHL than had he just stayed on his current deal. His only hope is that someone is willing to give him a 1-year, one-way, near-league minimum, "show-me" contract, and then try to build his career back up from there. Or, just go back to Europe now.

 

[DoMakc]

Best of luck to Zadina. I totally respect betting on yourself.

Is it betting on himself ot blaming others like Red Wings coaching staff for owl failures? If he stayed he would be also betting on himself.

 

[ShelbyZ]

Right, he's going to sign a two-way deal, and then not report to the AHL ... again.

I'm going to doubt there's a GM dumb enough to be convinced that Zadina would report if sent ... thereby making it extremely doubtful he signs a wink-wink "two-way" deal.

I would imagine most NHL GM's are going to look at Zadina as "NHL or bust" at this point and couldn't care less if he reports to the AHL or not. The two-way and any assignment/out clauses helps them save a little money/roster spot/etc. if/when he doesn't work out at the NHL level.

That said, given Zadina's age and "draft pedigree", if he doesn't work out with whatever NHL club signs him next, there will be another team ready to give him a shot if he ends up on waivers again at some point.

 

[Debrincat93]

I never said the drafting in the 1st was great, I didn’t even say it was good, I said statistically it’s average. I imagine you haven’t broken down the drafting of all the other nhl teams, like I said before, someone on this board did that and we landed somewhere in the middle if my memory serves me right.

a simple eye ball test tells me we are way below average.

 

[Run the Jewels]

Zadina is unlikely to find a better situation than Detroit when it comes to playing time. We have very little blocking him from playing time. It's the opposite of New York (if you can make it there, you can make it anywhere). If you can't lock down a scoring line spot in Detroit, good luck doing it at another NHL franchise.

 

[redwings8831]

 

[Barry Amsterdam]

i hate it here

 

[ChrisJP23]

This one stings not going to lie. When we drafted him, at least for me, he was the most exciting prospect we drafted in quite some time. Thought he was going to be the scorer we drastically needed (still need one). He just seemed to have horrible luck and I just kept waiting for him to catch a break and finally start producing. Never happened. This split unfortunately was needed for both parties.

Wish him luck wherever he ends up. If he stays in the NHL, I'll keep an eye on his production.

 

[Macoun]

This one stings not going to lie. When we drafted him, at least for me, he was the most exciting prospect we drafted in quite some time. Thought he was going to be the scorer we drastically needed (still need one). He just seemed to have horrible luck and I just kept waiting for him to catch a break and finally start producing. Never happened. This split unfortunately was needed for both parties.

Wish him luck wherever he ends up. If he stays in the NHL, I'll keep an eye on his production.

I seriously thought he would be the next Hossa

 

[stillwater]

I would imagine most NHL GM's are going to look at Zadina as "NHL or bust" at this point and couldn't care less if he reports to the AHL or not. The two-way and any assignment/out clauses helps them save a little money/roster spot/etc. if/when he doesn't work out at the NHL level.

Can you explain these "out" clauses in NHL contracts?

I've never heard of that. Can you provide an example?

 

[kliq]

a simple eye ball test tells me we are way below average.

An eye ball test is only applicable if you watch every draft pick on every team, otherwise it’s just bias if you’re watching one team and ignoring all statistics to the contrary.

 

[TCNorthstars]

My understanding is that even if you mutually agree to terminate a contract, there is still a buyout attached to that. For players under 26yo it is 1/3 of the remaining contract. Zadina is still owed $4.56M on a one-way contract, so by agreeing to terminate the contract, he is actually forgoing $3.04M (regardless if he were to play in Detroit or GR).

That is a ton of money for a guy who every NHL team looked at and said, "do not want." Whatever path he takes from here, I can't imagine he ever recoups that amount.

To be fair, it was more I don't want you for 4.5 mill over the next 2 seasons. Probably would want him at league min.

 

[OgeeOgelthorpe]

a simple eye ball test tells me we are way below average.

NHL drafts aren't like the NBA or NFL where you'll see the results of the draft within one or two years. It's closer to a 5 year process in the NHL.

Our top defenseman made his NHL debut in his D+3. We're not going to see how good Detroit's team of prospects will be for another year or two. But Detroit HAS built a strong system. Stronger than Holland from 2005 to 2018. I think if Detroit walks away with 2 players per draft from 2019 we can call it a success. Knocking it out of the park would be 3 or more players per draft, and we haven't quite gotten that draft yet.

 

[jaster]

To be fair, it was more I don't want you for 4.5 mill over the next 2 seasons. Probably would want him at league min.

Still, Zadina had to agree to this. He could have said, "I don't care whether you want me or not, this contract is guaranteed and I'm going to collect my $4.56M over the next 22 months, regardless of where you assign me."

 

[FabricDetails]

So is his agent asleep at the wheel or...?

 

[PullHard]

No hard feelings, it wasn't working here so good luck to him. Always cheered for him to succeed, obviously. Wanted Dobson then, want Dobson now.

 

[Oddbob]

Since when have teams and their players been able to "mutually agree to terminate a contract" with no penalty for the team or player and what prevents other players in different scenarios (injury, retirement, performance) from doing the same? I though all contracts in the NHL were guaranteed?

Reason it usually doesn't happen with notables is because the player generally wouldn't agree to just let the money go. If both parties want to separate, why should there be a penalty?

 

[jaster]

I would imagine most NHL GM's are going to look at Zadina as "NHL or bust" at this point and couldn't care less if he reports to the AHL or not. The two-way and any assignment/out clauses helps them save a little money/roster spot/etc. if/when he doesn't work out at the NHL level.

That said, given Zadina's age and "draft pedigree", if he doesn't work out with whatever NHL club signs him next, there will be another team ready to give him a shot if he ends up on waivers again at some point.

I pointed out that it doesn't make sense for an NHL GM to sign him to a two-way contract, but really, it makes even less sense for Zadina to do so. If he were to take that risk, go to camp, not make the team, refuse to go to the AHL, and have his contract terminated.... where does that leave him? 32 NHL teams just set their rosters for the season. Many in Europe as well. He'd be going around the hockey world with hat in hand practically begging at that point. His recent resume would have included being waived, refusal to accept an assignment, a terminated contract, failure to make an NHL team out of camp, waivers again, and likely a second terminated contract. He's betting on himself at the moment, but I doubt he's willing to take that route.

I don't know what's in store for the guy next, but I have to imagine a two-way contract with an NHL team is about the least likely scenario.... unless, he's actually ok with the AHL and just wanted out of the Detroit org that badly.

 

[stillwater]

Best of luck to Zadina. I totally respect betting on yourself.

Going to have to assume that the NHLPA do not share this sentiment.

 

[TCNorthstars]

Still, Zadina had to agree to this. He could have said, "I don't care whether you want me or not, this contract is guaranteed and I'm going to collect my $4.56M over the next 22 months, regardless of where you assign me."

But he does care. Not about the money, but about playing in the NHL. It wouldn't have been 4.56 as he would have mostly likely been bought out next offseason.

 

[Oddbob]

I doubt he refused to report to the AHL. If that is the case, why would he be listed as mutual termination, which means both sides agreed to something. If he refused to report his contract would just be terminated and nothing would be mutual about it.

I think highly likely he wants another NHL team, and that wasn't going to happen with his current cap hit. So gets out of this deal, signs elsewhere and while he will definitely lose money, it won't be all of it, and he gets a fresh start somewhere else.

 

[norrisnick]

I doubt he refused to report to the AHL. If that is the case, why would he be listed as mutual termination, which means both sides agreed to something. If he refused to report his contract would just be terminated and nothing would be mutual about it.

I think highly likely he wants another NHL team, and that wasn't going to happen with his current cap hit. So gets out of this deal, signs elsewhere and while he will definitely lose money, it won't be all of it, and he gets a fresh start somewhere else.

Because he can't actually refuse to report in July because he can't be assigned to GR in July. This is the result of a hypothetical discussion.

You cleared waivers. Show up at camp and see where you end up.
I'm not going to GR.
Then we'd have to suspend your contract.
Just cancel it now then.
Ok.

 

[stillwater]

I doubt he refused to report to the AHL. If that is the case, why would he be listed as mutual termination, which means both sides agreed to something. If he refused to report his contract would just be terminated and nothing would be mutual about it.

I think highly likely he wants another NHL team, and that wasn't going to happen with his current cap hit. So gets out of this deal, signs elsewhere and while he will definitely lose money, it won't be all of it, and he gets a fresh start somewhere else.

It just happens quicker this way, rather than go through all of training camp, then get sent down right at the point where NHL teams have already figured out their rosters.

A player and a team can mutually agree to terminate a contract at any time. If you don't believe what's being reported here, I don't know what to tell you. I don't quite follow the reasoning of why someone would just make that up.

(Unless they still had a grudge, LOL)

 

[jaster]

But he does care. Not about the money, but about playing in the NHL. It wouldn't have been 4.56 as he would have mostly likely been bought out next offseason.

Yes, it appears he does care about playing in the NHL. That's certainly his prerogative. I'm just saying it wasn't really more about Detroit not wanting him, they aren't the ones who initiated this process. Zadina did.

Even with a buyout next summer, he's walking away from $2.74M. Still a big chunk of money.

 

[Gniwder]

Back to Europe playing for his dad's team. I think @Gniwder was also predicting Bustina wouldn't finish his contract in Detroit despite protestations from the Zadina apologists.

Yeah, but I expected a buyout, not him bailing. That's a whole different level. So to make Nick happy, technically speaking, I was wrong, lol.

I think he really shot himself in the foot by saying he won't report to the AHL. Not sure which team wants a marginal player that won't report to the AHL? Up until he said that, I figured he'd get a contract somewhere.

My best guess at this point is that he gets a PTO somewhere, gets cut and winds up in Europe. I think he accelerated his own demise. He really seems to lack IQ, not just hockey but business, financial, and overall IQ.