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Filip Zadina Lands in Switzerland With Two-Year Deal With Davos

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Former Detroit Red Wings player Filip Zadina, who hasn’t lived up to expectations in the NHL, will now test his ability in the Swiss League with Hockey Club Davos.

Zadina, 24, signed a two-year deal with Davos. No financial details were released, but the average salary in the Swiss League is in the range of $250,000-$330,000. He earned $1.1 million last season with the San Jose Sharks, and as much as $1.8 million per season when he was with the Red Wings.

The signing came a few days after hockey insider Kevin Weekes reported Zadina’s representatives were talking to three teams. He didn’t specify whether the teams were in the NHL or abroad.

In the summer of 2023, Zadina asked Detroit GM Steve Yzerman to release him from a contract that paid him an average $1.8 million. He wanted a fresh start elsewhere.  He was actually risking $4.56 million because his final two seasons of the deal paid him actual salaries of $1.83 million and $2.73 million.

Phone Didn’t Ring

In Detroit, Zadina was viewed as a failed first round pick. He was picked sixth overall (when University of Michigan player Quinn Hughes was still available.). He came to Detroit with a reputation as a goal scorer. However,  he hasn’t been able to create offense consistently at the NHL level.

The gamble to give up guaranteed salary in Detroit failed because Zadina didn’t deliver for San Jose, either. He posted 13 goals and 23 points in 72 games, despite receiving a true opportunity, particularly early in the season. Zadina never scored more than 10 goals in Detroit.

The Sharks were not interested in re-signing him and his phone didn’t ring when free agency started July 1. The San Jose team was the NHL’s worst, and Zadina finished with a minus-44 plus-minus.