Whatever Happened to ex-Red Wing Filip Zadina?

Every NHL Draft has a few players who feel almost impossible to miss. Filip Zadina was one of those guys. Big-time scorer in junior, slick shot, tons of confidence, sixth overall pick by the Detroit Red Wings in 2018 — people were talking about him like he was going to become a star goal scorer for a long time.

And honestly, early on, it didn’t seem crazy.

Zadina Was Drafted Sixth Overall in 2018

Zadina lit it up with the Halifax Mooseheads in the Quebec Maritimes Hockey League (QMJHL) and looked like the kind of winger every NHL team wants. He had skill, he could shoot it, and he played with a little swagger. Detroit fans were excited when the Red Wings chose him sixth overall in the 2018 NHL Entry Draft (Quinn Hughes was chosen next by the Vancouver Canucks). The Red Wing were rebuilding, and Zadina looked like he might become one of the faces of the next era.

But then hockey happened. That’s probably the simplest way to explain Zadina’s career so far. He never totally busted, but he never fully arrived either. He’d have a good stretch offensively or a hot scoring streak in the American Hockey League (AHL). There were moments where the talent was obvious. But the consistency just never showed up long enough.

Part of the problem was that expectations became huge, really fast. When you’re drafted sixth overall, fans want a difference-maker. They want 30 goals. They want a star. And Zadina never quite became that player in Detroit.

The Red Wings Gave Zadina Lots of Chances

The Red Wings gave him time, too. This wasn’t one of those situations where a prospect gets buried after 40 games. They stuck with him for a few seasons and even signed him to an extension, hoping things would eventually click offensively. But his game stayed streaky, and there were nights where he just sort of disappeared. Coaches wanted more consistency away from the puck and more overall impact, but it never quite came together.

By 2023, both sides seemed ready for a reset. Zadina asked for a trade, Detroit tried to move him, and when nothing really materialized, the Red Wings put him on waivers. Eventually, he landed with the San Jose Sharks on a one-year deal. And weirdly enough, San Jose actually gave him one of the better stretches of his NHL career.

He played 72 games, scored 13 goals, and had 23 points. Those aren’t superstar numbers, but for a while, it felt like maybe he was starting to settle into being a useful NHL player. The problem was that San Jose was struggling badly overall, and Zadina’s underlying numbers still weren’t great. Then came another injury, and by the summer of 2024, the Sharks decided not to qualify him.

Zadina Signed with HC Davos in Switzerland

A lot of people assumed Zadina would stick around North America on a professional tryout (PTO) somewhere and try to grind his way back into the league. There were even rumors floating around about possible tryouts. But instead, he decided to do something different and signed with HC Davos in Switzerland.

It might have been the best thing for him. In Switzerland, Zadina found a league that fit his skill set a little better. More open ice, more puck possession, more offensive freedom. Suddenly, the confidence started showing up again. That doesn’t mean he suddenly turned into an NHL superstar hiding overseas. But he became productive again, and maybe more importantly, he started looking comfortable again. There’s value in that.

Zadina Put Together Two Good Seasons with Davos

In his first two seasons with HC Davos in Switzerland’s top professional league, he developed into a reliable offensive contributor. During the 2024-25 season, he recorded 21 goals and 34 points in 43 regular-season games while adding 10 points in 13 playoff contests.

He took another step forward in 2025-26, again scoring 21 goals but increasing his overall production to 41 points in 42 games. He also remained productive in the postseason, posting 10 points in 13 playoff games. Is Zadina’s NHL story finished?

Could Zadina Return to the NHL?

He’s still young enough that an NHL return wouldn’t shock anybody if he keeps producing in Europe. Teams are always looking for scoring depth, and high draft picks tend to get second and third chances if there’s still talent there. Sometimes players figure things out later than expected. Sometimes they just need the right role and the right fit.

For now, though, Zadina’s career feels less like a disaster and more like one of those reminders that development in hockey is rarely a straight line. Some players explode immediately. Others bounce around for years trying to figure it out. And some guys end up building really solid careers overseas after the NHL never quite unfolds the way everybody expected.