Former sixth-overall pick Filip Zadina would have been a good match for the Maple Leafs. Regretfully, he has made the decision to play in Europe.
Only last week, it was revealed that, according to Filip Zadina’s agent Darren Ferris, the Toronto Maple Leafs were among the three NHL teams most keen to sign him. Zadina was a past first-round selection.
He was seen as an addition who might contribute speed, skill, and depth to the Leafs’ scoring, as they needed to cover a void on the left wing. While unhappy forward Nick Robertson persisted in his efforts to be traded, adding Zadina may have also served as a stopgap measure, leaving the organization with an unfilled roster position.
But just when it seemed like the Maple Leafs and the other two unidentified teams were really getting going, Filip Zadina pulled off a bit of a surprise that saw him go completely in the opposite direction from anyone’s expectations. In a video posted on HC Davos’ social media X page, he declared that he was quitting the NHL completely and joining the Swiss team. Given that Zadina is still young and has the ability to grow into a dependable NHL player, this surprised me a little bit.
He took a risk by signing with HC Davos rather than staying in the NHL, and it might completely change the course of his career. Filip Zadina, the sixth overall choice in the 2020 NHL draft, hopes to revive his career in Europe after failing to reach his full potential in the NHL, where he tied his career-high 13 goals and added 10 assists for 23 points with the struggling San Jose Sharks last season. He might get the opportunity for a fresh start and maybe improve his game away from the NHL spotlight if he plays in Switzerland.
It’s possible that he may return to the NHL if he plays well in the Swiss league, but teams would need to see him very well in order to give him another chance. Then maybe the Leafs would take a chance on him? As far as Filip Zadina is concerned, obviously anything goes.
With just 262 NHL games under his belt, Filip Zadina has only managed 91 points in total—41 goals and 50 assists. He sincerely hopes that playing in Europe will help him achieve better results.
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