Detroit Red Wings: Evaluating the Filip Zadina Hype Train

In one of the most unlikely yet welcoming surprises of the 2018 NHL draft, Filip Zadina fell into the Detroit Red Wings lap at #6. This draft pick promptly speeds up the rebuild and gave the Wings a dangerous scorer with above average defensive skill.

Filip Zadina is a gifted two-way player from the Czech Republic. Zadina is a good but not quite great (above average) skater.  Zadina is in hockey terms a sniper. His shots find the back of the net, that fills a much-needed role for the Detroit Red Wings.

Zadina has a feel for finding the soft areas on the ice and burying the puck.  He is a playmaker pure and simple.  He has very soft hands and uses them very well.

Filip Zadina is not afraid to take shots.  He takes a lot of them, forcing teams to place two bodies on him leaving teammates open.  Zadina does have a significant flaw.  He is not all the great a passer.

He holds the puck too long much of the time and lacks quick decision-making at times. The good news is Filip will get into the dirty areas and is not shy about mixing it up. Once he cleans up his passing ability, nothing will set him back.

Filip Zadina is a potential game-changing winger. Zadina’s defense is solid; he even played on the penalty kill in junior. Not a surprise considering he gives his team a legit opportunity to score every time he is on the ice.

It is not known what the Detroit Red Wings will do with their prized winger. He is guaranteed to get a good long look during training camp. In my opinion, Filip Zadina should be in Grand Rapids. That may discourage Red Wings fans.  For the Detroit Red Wings to get as much out of Zadina, it would be ideal for him to play on the Griffins hockey team. He can use the time to consistently find his “A” game (which he is not far from.)

However, Zadina needs to gain more upper body strength and continue to clean up his passing.  A playmaking forward with both great hands and quick feet will help advance his progress to the NHL quickly.

Filip Zadina was supposed to be gone when Detroit picked with the sixth pick in the draft. He was not and wings general manager pounced. He smiled when he announced the pick because he knew they were given a gift.  Zadina considered himself a top three choice, and now he has a chip on his shoulder.

Soon, the Red Wings nation and the rest of the NHL will find out about Mr. Zadina. I suspect the Detroit Red Wings fans will have a similar smile to Ken Holland‘s.