The Free Press’s Helene St. James penned an article about Filip Zadina this afternoon, discussing the injured forward’s somewhat frustrating week at the Red Wings’ summer development camp. Zadina was able to skate a little bit despite nursing an injured hamstring, but he mostly participated in the off-ice activities over the past week’s worth of nutrition, physical training and recovery classes.
St. James took note of Zadina’s reflections upon his rookie pro season as the 19-year-old prepares to work on earning an NHL spot this fall:
Zadina ended his first year of pro hockey with 16 goals and 19 assists in 59 AHL games, plus three points in five playoff games.
He described 2018-19 as a “good season for me. I got to learn something and I hope and I believe (next season) will be way better.”
He wants to prove the Wings chose well last summer, that he can live up to the identity he established with a blistering draft year stats line (44 goals, 38 assists for 82 points in 57 games with Halifax).
Zadina has met with new general manager Steve Yzerman, who “talked to me a couple times about what I have to do better, how to improve my game, improve myself as an athlete,” he said.
“I’ll go to training camp to make the first team. I have to show them myself – I just want to be there as Filip Zadina. They drafted as a goal scorer and that’s what I have to focus on. Now the exhibition, games, I know what they will be all about. So just go in there with my best and see what happens.”
