Detroit Red Wings young winger Philip Zadina has been granted waivers as the team looks to find him a new opportunity elsewhere. General Manager Steve Yzerman revealed that Zadina requested a trade prior to the draft, and despite efforts to make a trade, the team was unable to find a suitable trade partner. His placement on waivers is seen as an opportunity for Zadina to join another organization.
Yzerman expressed his appreciation for Zadna’s talent and effort, saying that he was impressed by what he saw from him last season. However, Zadina hasn’t lived up to his expectations, and the team is hopeful that a change of scenery can help him reach his potential. If Zadina comes off waivers, which is likely given his lack of commercial interest, he’ll still be at the Red Wings training camp in the fall. Yzerman remains hopeful that player growth will continue this season.
At just 23 years old, Zadina still has time to develop into a valuable NHL player. Yzerman cited the example of Eeli Tolvanen, who found success later in his career, because he believes in Zadina’s potential. The winger has two years left on his $1.825 million contract.
Will anyone take Zadina’s chance?
While it’s unclear why production of Zadina failed and ended, the Red Wings hope they can find success elsewhere. Yzerman maintained that if Zadina cleared waivers, he still considered him a part of the team’s future, but that Zadina would need to earn his place.
As Zadina’s journey continues, the Red Wings wish him all the best for the next chapter of his career, hoping he can fulfill his potential and become a valuable player in the NHL. It doesn’t look like that will be in Detroit, but one can never tell given the uncertainty in the current NHL market.
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