Connect with us

Detroit Red Wings

Red Wings Review: Filip Zadina’s Future

Injuries cost Zadina 49 games during the 2022-23 NHL season

Published

on

Filip Zadina, Detroit Red Wings
Red Wings forward Filip Zadina was the victim of an injury-plagued campaign.

Detroit Hockey Now’s Red Wings Review series is assessing every player who held a significant place in the fortunes of the 2022-23 Detroit Red Wings season. We’ll be looking at the highs and lows they experienced during the recently-completed campaign, as well as what the future holds for them in Detroit. Today, we feature Filip Zadina

Filip Zadina

Position: Right Wing

2022-23 totals (GP-G-A-PTS-): 30-3-4-7

Contract Status: Signed through the 2024-25 season at an AAV of $1.825 million.

Season Synopsis

Nearly five years after they were drafting right-winger Filip Zadina with the sixth overall pick of the 2018 NHL entry draft, it’s fair to say that the Detroit Red Wings still don’t know exactly what they have in him.

Through the result of a variety of factors, Zadina has only been able to play one full NHL season so far. That was 2021-22 and it was a decent showing. He was accounting for 10-14-24 totals in 74 games. That led to hope that he might take another step forward in 2022-23. However, injuries would limit Zadina to just 30 games and just three goals.

“Filip Zadina was out all year,” Detroit GM Steve Yzerman lamented. “We kind of had him factored in to contribute to the offense.”

2022-23 Red Wings Highlights

In his first game back from his leg injury, Zadina would be scoring the deciding goal in the third period as the Red Wings defeated the Calgary Flames 2-1.

“Obviously it felt pretty good,” Zadina admitted. “It felt even better that I could help the team to win the game. It felt amazing.”

Two of Zadina’s three goals were game winners. All three of his tallies were registered during Detroit victories.

2022-23 Red Wings Lowlights

Zadina sat in the press box as a healthy scratch for the first two regular-season games. When he did get into the lineup, Zadina was pointless through nine games when he suffered a broken leg while blocking a shot in a game against the New York Islanders.

That injury would put him on the shelf until Feb. 7, a total of 38 games. Zadina would reaggravate the injury later in the season, causing him to miss the final 11 games on the Red Wings schedule.

What Does His Detroit Future Hold?

The Detroit brass is fond of Zadina because he’s willing to listen to advice and to put in the time and effort to hone his craft. They witnessed this side of his character during his rehab from his leg injury.

“He just put his head down,” Detroit coach Derek Lalonde said. “He worked hard. These guys are pros, but this was different. He just attacked it. It would be hard not to notice what he put into it.”

FanDuel Sportsbook Promo #1

ALL STATES WHERE LEGAL

GET THE APP
SIGNUP BONUS$1000 No Sweat Bet
$1000 No Sweat Bet
BET NOW

That being said, the fact of the matter is that Zadina hasn’t produced offense at the level anticipated from a player chosen so high in the draft. On the other hand, entering the second year of a three-year deal that’s paying him $1.825 million, if Zadina can match his 10-14-24 numbers of two seasons ago, or even improve on those totals, that’s pretty good bang for the buck from a bottom-six forward.