For a lot of Detroit Red Wings fans, winger Filip Zadina is the face of the failure of the late stages of Ken Holland's tenure as general manager, a measure of the mess Steve Yzerman inherited when he took over. Two summers ago, Yzerman finally cut bait on Holland's failed project, and Zadina signed with the San Jose Sharks. Zadina didn't stick in San Jose either, heading for Davos of the Swiss National League, where he spent the 2024-25 season. Now, after a reasonably with Davos, Zadina appears to have his eye on an NHL return.
Bookmark The Hockey News Detroit Red Wings team site to stay connected to the latest news, game-day coverage, and player features.
Holland selected Zadina with the sixth pick in the 2018 NHL Draft. Zadina—whom most pundits tapped as a top two or three overall selection—falling to Detroit was considered a draft night coup for the Red Wings at the time, only for reality to prove otherwise. Zadina totaled just 68 points in five seasons in Detroit. To make matters worse, Quinn Hughes (whom the Vancouver Canucks selected one pick after Zadina and who finished his amateur career just a few miles down the road from the Red Wings at the University of Michigan) was in the process of blossoming into a Norris caliber defenseman. His lone season with the Sharks did little to change Zadina's reputation: 23 points in 72 games. In 2024-25, Zadina registered 34 points in 43 games for Davos in the regular season, before scoring six goals and giving three assists in 10 playoff games.
Trending Red Wings Stories
Edvinsson to Join Sweden for World Championships
Report: McLellan Intends to Shake Up Coaching Staff
Pistons Success a Reminder of Red Wings Long Road
Three Questions for the Red Wings to Answer This Summer
Larkin Expresses Frustration with Red Wings Trade Deadline Approach
Kane Suggests Mutual Interest in Red Wings Return
In a recent interview with the Czech publication Sport Ceskatelevize, Zadina offered a window into his headspace following his first pro season outside of the NHL. "We'll see. I think I did the best I could during the season. And if it comes, it comes. If not, of course I won't hang my head. I was there for a few years, I tried it, it was great, but in Davos I felt that they took me as a valid player, they gave me a role and I filled it," the 25-year-old winger said of his time in North America and transition back to Europe.
"If something like that could come from America, I would take it 100 percent. But on the other hand, I want to look to the future, I want to be a good player who helps the team decide games. And I didn't have that role in America. For me, that move was a smarter move for my development. I believe I was better now than last year," Zadina added.
While it was a reasonably successful year for Zadina, his numbers don't exactly leap off the stat sheet to an extent that you'd expect to see NHL clubs come calling to inquire about his services for '25-26.
As a reference point, two former Red Wings finished in the top five in National League scoring for '24-25. Austin Czarnik actually topped the league in scoring with 56 points in 49 games, while Dominik Kubalik finished fourth with 49 in 52. When you consider that context, it seems unlikely Zadina's 34 points would be enough to attract NHL attention.
Do you think Zadina has played his last NHL game? Let us know in the comments.
Never miss a story by adding us to your Google News favorites.
