The Detroit Red Wings drafted forward Filip Zadina with the 6th overall pick in the 2018 NHL Draft with the hopes that he’d be a big part of the team’s future.
They were able to catch a glimpse of his abilities this season before a broken ankle shelved him for the remainder of what would eventually be a shortened campaign thanks to the COVID-19 pandemic. In 28 games, he scored eight goals with seven assists.
“I was actually ready to come back and play but the staff, they kind of canceled my plans,” Zadina said last week on The Red and White Authority podcast. “I’m probably, I would say, kind of sad about it because I was ready to go in order to get back on with the boys but it happened what happened. So maybe next year. I hope so.”
He’s been able to keep in shape in his native Czech Republic during the pause in play, keeping himself ready for the eventual return to action.
“I would just say I’m stronger right now than I was obviously when I got drafted,” Zadina said. “Maybe faster. I knew how to figure it out myself on the ice, I knew what to do just to keep it simple and play give and go and not just do it all by myself. It helped me a lot to use my teammates, my linemates and made the game way easier for myself than I was kind of used to from the CHL or when I was playing back here. I think I’m just being smarter than I was and more experienced than I was.”
The schedule for next year is tentatively dated to begin December 1, and you can bet that Zadina’s goal is to be a regular from the onset of training camp.
“I was there over half the season with Detroit and I loved it,” Zadina said. “I would love to spend every single day with them. It’s my dream and I loved to be there.
“I’m kind of sad about it but as soon as they open the borders and I will be able to be on the ice with the team, I’ll take my (butt) back to Detroit, baby.”
– – Quotes via Dana Wakiji of DetroitRedWings.com Link – –
