This Ex-Red Wings Player Would Welcome Return to NHL

Given a chance to play major minutes and skate in a significant role, former Detroit Red Wings forward Filip Zadina was thriving this season.

Playing for Davos of the Swiss League, the 25-year-old right-winger accounted for 21 goals and 34 points in 43 games in his first season outside the NHL.

“In Davos I felt that they took me as a valid player, they gave me a role and I filled it,” Zadina told Czech website Sport Ceskatelevize.

If a similar opportunity were to be presented to him by an NHL club, Zadina would jump at the chance to come back across the Atlantic Ocean.

DET @ CHI – 1/5/2020

Filip Zadina – 1-0 Red Wings #LGRW pic.twitter.com/Qnb9uwtEUB

— Red Wings Goals In Order (@RedWingsVids) March 14, 2025

“If something like that could come from America, I would take it 100 percent,” Zadina said. “But on the other hand, I want to look to the future, I want to be a good player who helps the team decide games. And I didn’t have that role in America.

“For me, that move (to Europe) was a smarter move for my development. I believe I’m better now than last year.”

Zadina Spent Five Seasons With Red Wings

If that opportunity were to come, it certainly won’t be coming from Detroit. Zadina will forever be viewed as a bust by the Red Wings faithful. Selected sixth overall in the 2018 NHL entry draft, his choice has grown to be even more of a sore spot with the Detroit fanbase. That’s because taken next at seventh overall by the Vancouver Canucks was Norris Trophy-winning defenseman Quinn Hughes.

Filip Zadina (2018 Red Wings 1st Round Pick) gets his first goal for the Sharks. pic.twitter.com/YvJnvNwLKB

— Alexander Johnson (@AJohnsonSports) October 13, 2023

While Hughes is already the all-time leading scorer among Canucks defenders, Zadina ranks 153rd in scoring among Red Wings forwards. His best season in Detroit was 2021-22, when Zadina put up 10-14-24 numbers in 74 games.

As much as he’d welcome another chance in hockey’s best league, it’s not NHL or nothing in Zadina’s mind.

“If it comes, it comes,” Zadina said. “If not, of course I won’t hang my head. I was there for a few years, I tried it, it was great.”