Breaking Down the Top 3 Potential Destinations for Filip Zadina

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The Detroit Red Wings off-season is going to be action packed and therefore, it will be exciting. With 11 players currently without a contract, the front office will be on the phones 24/7 to try and get deals done to bring some players back… but not all of them.

The Detroit Red Wings are set to have 11 players without contracts therefore, Steve Yzerman will be trying to figure out who he feels deserves to put on the Red Wings uniform and who doesn’t.

In most situations I feel that whoever the general manager is, they would generally try and bring back just about all of them. But not in this case. In this case, the Red Wings have a ton of prospects that could be apart of the team this upcoming fall which makes it difficult to go after some of these players in hope of bringing him back.

Additionally, the Red Wings will be jam packed and they are going to have to do something in order to relieve themselves of their depth. Especially if they want to compete.

If they are going to be competing at some point in the future, they need to add star power to their roster. In order to do so, the Red Wings need to part ways with some of their prospects while their value is high and acquire some. But that’s not the only scenario.

The Red Wings clearly want to go young, I think we can all say that’s the way Yzerman wan’t to go with this team which means that they could be willing to part ways with some of the older players on this team in order to acquire a player that can help them take another step forward as this team develops.

One of the players who’s name has been mentioned to be on the trade block is forward, Filip Zadina.

Filip Zadina

The Detroit Red Wings are in a very unique spot. Being in rebuild mode but having many, many players currently without a contract, it leaves the organization at a loss. Additionally, they are also without a coach which means that Yzerman doesn’t have anyone to consult with about these upcoming decisions.

Determining a game-plan is important and right now, I’m not exactly sure what type of game-plan Yzerman is compiling. If I had to take a guess, I’d wager that he want’s to develop prospects and build from within the system. However, that means that there will have to be some moves made in order to make room for these prospects. Names like, but not limited too, Filip Zadina.

Filip Zadina’s Off-Season

Filip Zadina was drafted by the Detroit Red Wings during the 2018 NHL entry draft. The 22 year old forward has not quite found his footing with the Red Wings and therefore, now that his contract is up, he’s going to need a new one and I’m not so sure he’s worth it at this point.

Listed as a restricted free agent, the Red Wings do own the rights to him this season which may make it so they let him test out free agency and try and get something in return for him that way. But, that’s not the only reasonable option.

Filip Zadina of the Detroit Red Wings. Mandatory Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-USA TODAY Sports /

Teams Who Should Be Interested in Filip Zadina

The Red Wings could look to move Filip Zadina via. trade which is what I’d more or less expect them to do. He hasn’t really proven anything in his time here. Now, that’s not completely his fault as former head coach, Jeff Blashill, did have something to do with it.

Not utilizing him very well, it’s easy to think that the Red Wings

So, whoever trades for him, they will more than likely be looking to bring him on long term. So, again, what team’s would be interested in him? Well, here you go.

Looking at capfreindly.com, there were a couple teams that stood out.

Nashville Predators

The first team that stood out was the Nashville Predators. The Predators just got into the playoffs this past season and were eliminated by the Colorado Avalanche in a round one sweep. Which, can we really blame them for getting swept without Juuse Saros? Not really. But, clearly they need some help scoring the puck.

This past season, one of the Predators top scorers was a defenseman. Which, is to no discredit to Josi. Josi is undoubtedly a top defenseman in the league. Putting up 96 points in 80 games this pas season, it’s hard not to think of him more as a forward than a defenseman. But, he is. He is a defenseman. Which, shows how much help they need on the wing.

Outside of Filip Forsberg, Matt Duchene, Mikael Granlund, and Ryan Johansen, the Predators don’t have anyone on their roster who scares me in the offensive zone. They could do with adding another scorer to their roster and Zadina fits that critera perfectly.

The Predators are walking into this years off-season with roughly $21,500,000 in cap space available. That would give them more than enough to sign Zadina to a contract would they so choose.

New Jersey Devils

The New Jersey Devils are in the same position as the Red Wings. They are a young team that is growing and developing from within. Well, for the most part.

The Devils need to add some veteran presence to their roster, but they also need to add some scorers. They showed they have some talent with Jespert Bratt, Yegor Sharangovich, Dawson Mercer, Jack Hughes, and Nico Hischier, but that’s only a few names. They need to keep growing and becoming better.

They signed Dougie Hamilton who battled injuries this past season, adn therefore he had a down year. But, you know that he will bounce back this upcoming season which will help. But once again, they need help on the offensive side of the puck and need help at the goalie position. Now, we can’t help them on that front, but we can give them a young talented scorer who fits with their team.

The Devils currently have $25,000,000 so they have more than enough money to spend on a new cntract for Zadina if they traded for him. Additionally, they would have plenty left over for them to go after Claude Giroux who they’ve been tied to.

Anaheim Ducks

The Anaheim Ducks were in arguably the toughest division in the NHL. Between the Knights, Oilers, Flames, Canucks, Kings and the Ducks, there were a lot of teams competing for the playoffs. Now, all those teams will be looking to take their talents evern furter this upcoming season which means making some moves.

The Ducks lost Getzlaf due to retirement but they do have Sonny Milano, Trevor Zegras, Mason McTavish, and Troy Terry. However, do those names really bring a sense of star power at this point in time? I mean, Zegras is a rising star but let’s not forget that he only finished the season with 61 points this past season. Terry finished with 67 points. Which, is fair but not star. Which means they need to add depth that can score and create a three-line rotation.

Adding Filip Zadina would give them a second-line winger that could be a potential 30 goal scorer. Of course, that is if he is given the opportunity too as well as the trust of the coach and the chemistry with his teammates.

We’ve seen how good Zadina plays when he plays with Jakub Vrana which proves that chemistry means a lot to him. It’s just a matter of finding a sutior that will give him those same chances and opportunites and I feel the Ducks are in a spot right now in which they absolutley can.

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