Breaking Down the Top 3 Potential Destinations for Filip Zadina
By Evan Mead
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.