Maple Leafs drop the ball, miss chance to add former 6th overall pick
Filip Zadina is a former 6th overall pick and would have fit in well with the Maple Leafs. Unfortunately, he has decided to head to Europe to continue playing.
It was only last week that it was reported the Toronto Maple Leafs were one of three NHL clubs most determined to secure the services of former first-round draft pick Filip Zadina, according to his agent Darren Ferris.
The Leafs had a hole to fill on the left wing and saw him as an addition who could bring speed, skill, and added depth to their scoring. Adding Zadina might've also been a temporary solution while disgruntled forward Nick Robertson continued to try to get traded, leaving the team with an open roster spot that wasn't resolved.
But just as the Maple Leafs and the other two unnamed teams were really starting to ramp things up, Filip Zadina pulled a bit of a shocker that saw him go in an entirely different direction from what anyone could have expected. He announced via a video on the social media X page of HC Davos that he would be leaving the NHL altogether, signing with the Swiss club. This came as somewhat of a surprise given that at 24 years young, Zadina still has the potential to develop into a reliable NHL player.
This decision to sign with HC Davos as opposed to continuing in the NHL is a gamble that might redefine his career. Having not fully realized his talents in the NHL, where the 6th-overall pick at the 2020 NHL draft tied his career-high 13 goals last season with the struggling San Jose Sharks, while also adding 10 assists for 23 points, Filip Zadina looks to rejuvenate his career in Europe. Playing in Switzerland might give him that chance for a fresh start and perhaps fine-tune his game outside of the NHL microscope.
If he happens to dominate play in the Swiss league, it's not out of the question that he may find his way back to the NHL, but he would have to be spectacular for NHL teams to take another look. Perhaps the Leafs would then take a gamble on him? When it comes to Filip Zadina, clearly anything is possible.
Filip Zadina has only played in 262 career NHL games, where he's scored 41 goals and added 50 assists for only 91 total points. He's definitely hoping that playing in Europe will improve his statistics.
Source: Maple Leafs Daily
Maple Leafs asleep at the wheel, miss out on adding former 6th overall pick
Source: NHL.com
Filip Zadina Stats
| POLL | ||
Would Filip Zadina have fit in well with the Toronto Maple Leafs? | ||
| Yes | 113 | 48.1 % |
| No | 122 | 51.9 % |
| List of polls | ||
