We’ll see what happens tomorrow, but there is word the Detroit Red Wings are considering placing Filip Zadina on waivers for the purposes of terminating his contract.
Zadina is owed $4.56M in salary over the next two seasons. This is tricky to report, because agent Darren Ferris would not comment, but, as I write this, the belief is Zadina is prepared to walk away from the money and not contest the move. According to several sources, in recent conversations, the player made it very clear he would not report if sent to the AHL next season. (That would be a contract violation.)
If he clears waivers, he could sign anywhere he wishes.
Zadina asked for a trade before the draft, and the Red Wings placed him on regular waivers on Tuesday. Available to any team, everyone passed. Talking with local media, Yzerman made it clear salary was the problem.
“Am I happy to put him on waivers? No. I signed him to a three-year contract a year ago because I believed that he was going to grow. The reality now is: you wanted that contract, that contract may prevent you from getting the opportunity you’re looking for in another organization.”
Terminating it would solve the problem, but it’s a surprise we didn’t see coming. Zadina, the sixth overall pick in the 2018 draft, has 28 goals in 190 NHL games.
The Red Wings could place him on waivers Thursday at noon ET.
