Sharks add 23-year-old former top-10 draft pick in free agency

The Sharks took a flyer on a former top NHL Draft pick in free agency, announcing a deal with Filip Zadina on Monday morning as general manager Mike Grier continues to remake the San Jose roster.

The 23-year-old Czech forward joins the Sharks on a one-year, $1.1 million contract.

Zadina was the No. 6 overall pick in the 2018 draft by Detroit and has played parts of five seasons for the Red Wings, including 30 games last year, totaling three goals and four assists as he missed part of the season with a leg injury.

The two prior seasons were his most productive at the NHL level, as he played 49 games and scored 19 points in 2020-21 and followed that with career-highs of 10 goals, 24 points and 74 games played in 2021-22.

Prior to being drafted, Zadina excelled in his one season at the North American junior level, tallying 44 goals and 38 assists in 57 games for the Halifax Mooseheads of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League.

Since then, though, he has struggled to live up to the expectations that come with being a top draft pick.

Zadina was waived by Detroit last week, less than a year after signing a three-year, $5.5 million contract. Zadina, who struggled to break into the Wings’ top-six forward group, was reportedly willing to forgo the rest of that contract for a chance at a fresh start, which he’ll get with the Sharks.

Zadina may be a former top pick, but he isn’t the biggest-name forward Grier has brought in this summer. That distinction belongs to Anthony Duclair, acquired from Florida last month in exchange for Steven Lorentz and a draft pick.

Grier also added goalie Mackenzie Blackwood from New Jersey via trade and has been working on a potential trade of Norris Trophy winner Erik Karlsson, 33, who is owed $11.5 million each of the next four years and has spoken about his desire to compete for a Stanley Cup.