Filip Zadina hits new low point in his NHL career.
The overconfident young forward has just been given his harshest reality check yet.
I think it is now safe to say that Filip Zadina won't be keeping his promise after all.
On Monday, it was officially announced by HC Davos of the Swiss National League that Zadina had agreed to a new two-year contract that seemingly brings Zadina's underwhelming career in the NHL to a very early end. Of course it is still possible for Zadina to return to the NHL at some point, but given his history that seems unlikely at this point.
HC Davos also released a video along with their announcement:
Zadina's career in the National Hockey League has been a cautionary tale about how too much confidence and/or too much ego can seriously damage the career of a talented young prospect.
At one point slated to be the first overall pick in his draft class, Zadina would instead fall all the way down to 6th overall, being selected by then general manager of the Detroit Red Wings Ken Holland. Zadina would famously warn the teams that had passed over him that they would live to regret their decision.
"I’m going to fill their nets with pucks," said a brash young Zadina.
Unfortunately, despite his confidence, Zadina would never truly establish himself as an NHL level player despite the initial projections about him, never playing a full NHL season. The closest he ever came would be a 74 game season as a member of the Detroit Red Wings, one in which he scored 10 goals and added 14 assists for a total of 24 points on the season. Funnily enough his plus minus rating would match his point total in the worst kind of way, with Zadina ending the season with a plus minus of -24.
Zadina would not last much longer in Detroit after that, playing just 30 more games for the Red Wings before making the shocking decision to mutually terminate his contract with the team. The move would result in Zadina leaving a whopping $4.56 million on the table, money he would never recover only earning a 1 year deal with the San Jose Sharks at a value of $1.1 million before today's announcement from HC Davos.
You have to wonder, and perhaps even hope for Zadina's sake, if this journey has perhaps helped him learn a little humility moving forward.
