Former top prospect Filip Zadina has signed a two year contract with HC Davos of the Swiss National League the club announced Monday.
The Czech forward was originally selected 6th overall by the Detroit Red Wings in the 2018 NHL Entry Draft, but failed to catch on in the Motor City. After spending last season in San Jose, Zadina was rumoured to be angling for a professional try out with an NHL club. A rumour which was subsequently denied by his agent.
Instead, the 24 year old will now take his talents back overseas to play for one of the most historic hockey clubs outside of North America.
Zadina tallied 91 points (41G, 50A) across 262 career NHL contests between 2018 and 2024. He was ultimately non-tendered by Detroit following the expiration of his entry level contract, allowing him to a sign a 1 year $1.1M “prove it” deal with the Sharks.
The 6′ winger famously went viral after the draft when he remarked βI was telling my agent, if they will pass on me, Iβm going to fill their nets with pucks,β he toldΒ Helene St. James of theΒ Detroit Free Press regarding the Senators and Canadiens who both passed on him. βI want to prove to Detroit that they make a pretty good decision.β
He will now make his European debut with the historically strong HC Davos squad later this fall.
Photo: Jenn G. This file is licensed under theΒ Creative CommonsΒ Attribution-Share Alike 2.0 GenericΒ license.