No, said Steve Yzerman, he doesn't bear any "animosity" toward Filip Zadina, the former sixth overall pick the Red Wings placed on waivers Monday.
"Am I thrilled? Am I happy to put him on waivers? No. I signed him to a three-year contract a year ago because I believed he was going to grow," Yzerman said. "And when he signed that contract, my expectation was that he wanted to grow with us."
Instead, Zadina came out of last season, his fifth with the Red Wings, seeking an opportunity to grow elsewhere. He requested a trade ahead of last week's NHL Draft. And when Yzerman couldn't find any takers, waiving Zadina was the only way to accommodate the 23-year-old's wish.
"A couple weeks prior to the draft, through his agent, he had asked if he could potentially go somewhere else, looking for more opportunity, a fresh start," Yzerman said. "So I’ve tried to find a place for him to play, somebody who was interested in Filip would maybe give him that opportunity. I haven’t been able to do that. So I put him on waivers today, trying to give him an opportunity to go to an organization if he wants to play more. We’ll see if that happens."
Billed as one of the top goal-scorers in the 2018 draft, Zadina hasn't lived up to the hype in Detroit. He scored just three goals in 30 games last season as he battled injuries and has scored just 28 goals in 190 games over parts of five seasons in the NHL. While Yzerman wasn't the general manager who drafted Zadina, he did commit to him last offseason with a three-year, $5.475 million deal. That cost, along with Zadina's scant production, explains why he he's yet to find a new team.
"The reality now is, hey, you wanted that contract; that contract may prevent you from getting that opportunity you’re looking for in another organization," Yzerman said. "That’s the reality. Best-case scenario, and it’s not out of the realm of possibility, he clears waivers, he comes to training camp, he plays well, he works his way up into the lineup and he goes.
"But Filip is a good young man. ... Not everybody matures or evolves at the same stage. He’s gotta stick with it. And unfortunately now, the situation is that if he doesn’t get claimed, he’s with our organization and there’s not much we can do other than both work hard and see if he can become a player."
Zadina has already had several opportunities to establish himself in Detroit. That includes ice time on the power play and chances to play with center Dylan Larkin on the Wings' top line. It's no given that he'll warrant or receive more opportunity with another team.
If Zadina is back with Detroit next season, it's an outcome Yzerman would welcome. He saw growth in the winger's game last season and said, "I don’t write his career off by any means."
"Again, I thought he made significant steps. It’s been a challenge for him, he’s had some injuries playing in Detroit. I think he’s got upside. I think he still can become a valuable player in the NHL. Last year he was held back by injury and there’s nothing he or I or anybody can do about it. It happens. Generally, guys persevere," Yzerman said.
Whether Zadina perseveres, and whether he does so in Detroit or elsewhere, remains to be seen.
"Like I said, personally I like Filip and I think there’s something there as a hockey player," Yzerman said. "If he clears, he’s going to come to training camp and he’s gotta earn a spot on the team. There’s not much more I can do at this stage to help him. He’s gotta go out and earn it."
Listen live to 97.1 The Ticket via:
Audacy App | Online Stream | Smart Speaker