Former Red Wings Defenseman Leaving World Champs to Come to NHL?

As a defenseman, Marek Zidlicky once was finding himself arriving to play for the Detroit Red Wings late in an NHL season.

Now, there are published reports in Czechia that Zidlicky may be arriving late in the summer to begin his career as an NHL coach.

VIDEO: This is how you make an impression! Marek Zidlicky nets OT winner in Red Wings' debut. http://t.co/0dtDripeQJ pic.twitter.com/9yFCaJmNMz

— theScore (@theScore) March 5, 2015

In recent years, Zidlicky has been working as an assistant coach with the Czech national team. He was on the staff of Radim Rulik in the spring as Czechia won the IIHF World Championship on home ice in Prague.

Zidlicky’s contract was expiring in the summer.

“I don’t have a contract and I don’t know what it will look like,” Zidlicky said at the time.

He’s since been presented with an offer. So far, he’s not opting to sign a new pact with his homeland’s hockey team.

“Zidlicky received an offer from us for a multi-year contract that also covers the next Olympics,” Alois Hadamczik, head of Czech hockey, was comfirming to Czech website iSport.blesk. “At first he refused it, saying that he would change his mind.

“I spoke directly with him and he told me that he is still undecided.”

It was Hadamczik who first brought Zidlicky in as a coach with the country’s national team program six years ago. He began working with the Czech world junior team prior to moving up to the senior national squad.

Former Red Wings Player Linked To Islanders

The fact that Zidlicky isn’t signing his new contract with the Czechs is fueling rumors that he’ll be leaving. There’s speculation he’ll be taking a job on an NHL staff.

His name is being linked to staff of the New York Islanders, a club whose current coach is Red Wings nemesis Patrick Roy. Zidlicky, 47, would finish his NHL playing with the Islanders in 2015-16.

#28 Marek Židlický blasts home a powerplay goal.#countdown pic.twitter.com/uQdfWcg6lg

— Isles Den (@IslesDen) September 16, 2023

“Islanders? Yes, he said he got an offer from them,” Hadamczik confirmed.

“I still don’t know how he will decide, but I don’t feel from his words that he doesn’t want to continue with the national team. I have a long-term, above-standard relationship with Zidla. We’ll see. It’s up to him.”

Zidlicky came to the Red Wings via a March 2, 2015 trade with New Jersey. That deal was moving a conditional draft pick to the Devils.

He wound up producing 3-8-11 totals in 21 games with Detroit. Zidlicky also saw action in six playoff games with the Red Wings.

In the summer of 2015, he’d be signing as an unrestricted free agent with the Islanders.