Filip Zadina signed a one-year, $1.1 million contract with the San Jose Sharks on Monday.
The 23-year-old had seven points (three goals, four assists) in 30 games for the Detroit Red Wings last season, and one goal in two games with Grand Rapids of the American Hockey League.
Zadina had been placed on waivers by the Red Wings on July 3 and subsequently had the final two seasons of his three-year, $5.475 million contract ($1.825 million average annual value) terminated.
General manager Steve Yzerman said he had attempted to trade Zadina, and after he went unclaimed on waivers, the contract termination was chosen as the best option by Zadina and the Red Wings.
“He wanted a fresh start,” Yzerman said Monday. “I tried to trade, we put him on waivers, couldn’t move him. This was the only way to get him a fresh start. So I really respect him for making this decision. He’s not a dumb person, he knows what he’s giving up. But his career is more important than the dollars. I wish him well, I really do.”
Zadina was selected by the Red Wings in the first round (No. 6) of the 2018 NHL Draft. He had 68 points (28 goals, 40 assists) in 190 games.
Yzerman said the space under the salary cap saved from terminating Zadina’s contract in part enabled them to sign forward Alex DeBrincat to a four-year, $31.5 million contract ($7.875 million AAV) after acquiring him in a trade with the Ottawa Senators earlier Monday.
“That’s a positive,” Yzerman said. “Going back to it, when we signed Filip a year ago, the feeling was he’s going to get better and continue to play a bigger role. Mostly through injury this year that didn’t happen. I’d rather have [$1.8 million] in cap space then potentially a player playing in the American Hockey League. Filip wanted a fresh start, he’s able to do that, good for him, and we were able to put not only the cap space but the actual dollars into other things.”
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