“He prioritized hockey over dollars,” praised general manager Steve Yzerman. The 23-year-old forward, who was the sixth pick in the 2018 draft and had the image of a gunner, did not succeed as he planned in five seasons in Detroit. He scored only 28 goals in 190 games, but he could not complain that he wouldn’t get a chance.
Although he was hampered by a long-term injury last season, he himself felt that this was not the case and asked the management for a replacement. Yzerman offered Zadina to other clubs, unsuccessfully. The obstacle was the contract designed in such a way that the Czech forward collects 1.83 million dollars in the next season and 2.73 million in the year 2024-25. And that was too much for potential applicants.
Photo: Czech hockey, Jan Beneš
Philip Zadina.
So Zadina decided to take a radical step. He ‘returned’ the Detroit millions and is moving to San Jose to join Tomáš Hertl.
“He knew what he was giving up. His career is more important to him. But this doesn’t happen very often,” Yzerman nodded.
If he had searched his memory a little, he might have remembered the 2003-04 season, when his star Czech teammate Dominik Hašek gave up Detroit’s millions. He injured his groin after 14 games and was supposed to rest for at least two weeks. He then privately told general manager Ken Holland that he was refusing to be paid during his absence. In mid-February, Hašek surprised the management of the Red Wings when he announced to them that he would not continue in the season. And even more so when he gave up $3 million of his $6 million salary.
Zadin’s move drew similarly approving reactions. “He just wanted to start with a clean slate,” Yzerman said.
In San Jose, the arrival of the Czech reinforcement is seen as a masterpiece by general manager Mike Grier. When it doesn’t work out, the Sharks don’t lose much. However, if Zadina finally starts to live up to his potential, it could have a beneficial effect on a rebuilding team. At the moment, only Anthony Duclair and Alexander Barabanov are ahead of Zadina in the wing hierarchy. In addition, after the expiration of the one-year contract, the Pardubic prodigy will have the status of a protected free agent and San Jose can exercise the rights to him.
“Filip’s conversation with coach David Quinn was instrumental in his decision to choose the Sharks,” Zadin’s agent Darren Ferris revealed.
Zadin’s signing of the contract is also connected with the departure of his compatriot and friend Martin Kaut, who signed with Pardubice. However, the Sharks retain the rights to the 16th pick of the 2018 draft, which caused some California fans to speculate about Kaut’s possible return and the creation of a purely Czech attack of Kaut, Hertl, Zadin. Anyway, San Jose Hockey Now journalist Sheng Peng has already coined a nickname for him: kHz, or Kilohertz line.
2023-07-11 19:40:12
#NHL #Years #Hašek #Zadina #Hockey #important #dollars #Yzerman #appreciated
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