The Red Wings can afford to remain patient with Filip Zadina

Nearly four years after the Detroit Red Wings selected him sixth overall in the 2018 NHL Draft, it’s safe to say Filip Zadina’s NHL career hasn’t yet taken off as anyone hoped. The 22-year-old winger has just four goals and 11 points in 37 games this season. He’s averaging just 14:37 per game, the lowest ATOI figure of his NHL career to date. Earlier this month, the Red Wings made Zadina a healthy scratch for the first time this season. Zadina’s entry-level contract expires after this season, which will make him a restricted free agent for the first time in his career. He currently makes just $894,167 against the Red Wings’ salary cap. At this point, it’s probably safe to say Zadina’s potential trade value outweighs his on-ice production. A cursory glance at his overall player profile shows somebody who doesn’t yet do much to push play at either end of the ice. Zadina has long been regarded as a skilled shooter. In advance of the 2018 draft, NHL.com writer Guillaume Lepage described Zadina as “a sharpshooter