Red Wings, Zadina agree to terminate contract
Filip Zadina is seeking a fresh start.
The Detroit Red Wings placed the former No. 6 pick on unconditional waivers for the purpose of mutual contract termination Thursday, per TSN's Chris Johnston.
Zadina is forgoing the remaining $4.56 million on his deal. He cleared waivers Tuesday - possibly due to his $1.825-million cap hit over the next two seasons.
As an unrestricted free agent, Zadina can sign with a team of his choosing - likely for near the league minimum.
The 23-year-old Czech winger recorded just three goals and four assists in 30 games with the Red Wings last season while averaging 13:06 per contest. He's mustered only 68 points in 190 career games across parts of five campaigns.
His underlying numbers were strong this past season, though:
Filip Zadina, placed on waivers by DET, is a young winger. Underlyings strong in a small sample of fourth-line minutes, but his production and finishing just hasn't been there. #LGRW pic.twitter.com/D7qF6mC11o
— JFresh (@JFreshHockey) July 3, 2023
Detroit selected Zadina, who starred for the QMJHL's Halifax Mooseheads in his draft year, one spot before Quinn Hughes in 2018.