Sheng Peng
If Filip Zadina fulfills his potential with the San Jose Sharks, you can thank David Quinn.
Yesterday, the Sharks announced that they had signed the sixth-overall pick of the 2018 Draft to a one-year, $1.1 million contract. It’s a prove-it deal for a sniper who’s scored just 28 goals in 190 games over parts of five NHL seasons.
“I chose the Sharks because after I spoke with coach Quinn, we had a good conversation, we were on the same line talking about how I can help the team and how the team can help me to prove my game and become a better player,” the 23-year-old told San Jose media this afternoon. “It was after that call, it was pretty much easy to decide where I want to go.”
Zadina’s agent Darren Ferris told San Jose Hockey Now that he “had higher dollar offers, but wanted to go to San Jose after speaking to Quinny.”
“I was actually scared that the interest was not gonna be that high as I wanted, but it turned out a lot of teams had big interest,” Zadina reported. “I spoke to a bunch of GMs, a bunch of coaches, and a bunch of players called me from different teams, so it was really a hard time to decide.”
According to Ferris, five teams made offers to Zadina, and there were three finalists. But Quinn won the young Czech winger over.
“We talked about what kind of opportunity I’m gonna get after I earn it, if I earn it,” Zadina said. “I believe that I’m ready to earn that opportunity that he is willing to provide me.”
Choosing a less lucrative San Jose Sharks’ offer is especially meaningful considering that Zadina walked away from $4.56 million cash from the Detroit Red Wings, over the next two years, to become an unrestricted free agent.
“I’ve been talking about that decision with my agent for a bit of time right now, because I just wanted to have a fresh start,” Zadina said of the unusual step of renouncing his contract.
“The last couple of seasons in Detroit, I’ve been hurt all the time. I wasn’t really playing because I was trying to get back on track with my conditioning, my strength, and everything when I was out,” Zadina, who missed 50 games last season because of a broken bone in his right leg. He said he had a “couple surgeries” because of this injury.
Zadina also had his sophomore season ended by a fractured ankle in 2019-20, was in COVID protocol during both the 2020-21 and 2021-22 seasons, and had appendicitis cut short his 2021-22 campaign.
“It kept happening again and again, it was tough mentally. You know, seeing other players playing, and I was just in the gym and watching those games from the stands, not really being a part of the game,” he shared. “Then obviously, when I wasn’t playing, the other guys were getting chances to play, they played well, and they earned that spot. It was tough for me, from the bottom, starting almost every season.”
Zadina appeared to face an even greater uphill climb in Motown this fall, especially after the Red Wings added forwards Alex DeBrincat, J.T. Compher, Klim Kostin, Daniel Sprong, and Christian Fischer to the mix this off-season.
For a player down on himself, in part because of injuries, that’s no shot of confidence.
“I would rather go somewhere else to get the opportunity and prove [to] myself that I’m still a good player as I used to be,” Zadina said. “[That] was what went through my mind when I did that decision to part ways with Detroit.”
Now, the 6-foot-0 winger is fully healthy and has Quinn and the San Jose Sharks’ faith.
“I’m healthy as [ever],” he offered. “I obviously want to bring the two-way game and I want to bring back the scoring ability and playmaking ability back to normal, use it [regularly] on the ice during the game.”
Also there to get Zadina back on track? Countryman Tomas Hertl.
“That’s obviously one of the reasons why I wanted to go to San Jose. Tomas is one of the best centers the league,” he said. “It will be a chance for me to play with him and I will absolutely love that. So we’ll see if I earn that spot on his wing. If that’s gonna happen, I would be really happy, for sure.
“He texted me after I went to San Jose, he was excited.”
So the table is set for Zadina. After Anthony Duclair and Alexander Barabanov, wing is a wide-open position on the San Jose Sharks. Left-shooting Zadina, who’s adept on both wings, may never get a better chance to prove himself on the NHL stage.
“I put a lot on the line and I want to be responsible for that decision,” he acknowledged. “I just felt that going to San Jose is the right decision for me.”