Sharks Sign Filip Zadina to One-Year Contract

Forward Filip Zadina is headed to the San Jose Sharks after terminating his contract with the Detroit Red Wings.

The San Jose Sharks are adding forward Filip Zadina to the team on a one-year contract worth $1.1 million.

Zadina recently had his contract with the Detroit Red Wings terminated, paving the way for the 23-year-old to become a UFA and get a fresh start with a new team.

It felt like a fresh start was the only way to go, as Zadina came off a 2022-23 season with three goals and seven points in 30 games, plus a two-game stint in AHL Grand Rapids, where he had one goal. It was a big step back after he showed signs of growth in each of the three seasons prior, with him playing more games and recording more points in each campaign.

Throughout Zadina's five seasons of NHL experience since Detroit drafted him sixth overall in 2018, he scored 28 times and recorded 40 helpers for 68 points in 190 games. The winger also has a career shooting percentage of 7.4 percent.

Once considered one of the purest goal-scorers in the 2018 NHL draft class, Zadina hasn't found that type of success so far in The Show. But he's become a capable two-way player in the NHL, and he should get opportunities with the Sharks to figure out a role that works best for him and excel.

The Sharks now have 23 signed players on their active roster and still have about $5.4 million in cap space, according to PuckPedia. San Jose has already brought in Anthony Duclair on offense while re-signing Fabian Zetterlund. Zadina will still need to prove he deserves a spot in the top six, but if he can lock up a role and take a step forward, he could extend with the team and be one of San Jose's key players as the Sharks continue to rebuild.