Detroit Red Wings general manager announced the news that many fans have been waiting for – first round draft pick Filip Zadina will be getting a look next month with the big club.
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“We’re going to give Zadina a little bit of an opportunity in March. I want him or the young players to see what the NHL is all about, so as they head into the offseason [they know what they need to work on]. I think a young player can really improve in the gym between June and August,” Holland said.
It has been a bit of an adjustment for Zadina since coming to North America. He’s put up 11 goals and 22 points in 38 games with the AHL’s Grand Rapids Griffins, Detroit’s minor-league affiliate. He also had a less than stellar World Junior Championships, failing to score in five games (one assist) as the Czech Republic was unable to reach the medal round.
However, Holland is remaining positive and says that the adversity will only help Zadina moving forward in his professional career.
“When you’ve had young players that have had a ton of success in junior, in college, in Europe, the expectations are they’re going to go to the NHL and they’re going to have that same success, and I think adversity’s a good thing. I don’t think it’s a bad thing,” Holland said.
Zadina’s NHL stint is likely to be nine games or fewer; should it extend beyond that, Detroit would be using up a year of his entry level contract, meaning he’d be eligible for the 2021 Seattle expansion draft.
BONUS CONTENT:
Zadina back with Griffins after disappointing WJC
Last season, Detroit Red Wings prospect Filip Zadina scored seven goals in seven games during the World Junior Championship and helped his native Czech Republic to a medal.
Unfortunately for the Czechs and Zadina, it didn’t go quite as well this year.
