Red Wings, Zadina agree to terminate contract

Filip Zadina is seeking a fresh start.

The Detroit Red Wings placed the former No. 6 pick on unconditional waivers for the purpose of mutual contract termination Thursday, per TSN's Chris Johnston.

Zadina is forgoing the remaining $4.56 million on his deal. He cleared waivers Tuesday - possibly due to his $1.825-million cap hit over the next two seasons.

As an unrestricted free agent, Zadina can sign with a team of his choosing - likely for near the league minimum.

The 23-year-old Czech winger recorded just three goals and four assists in 30 games with the Red Wings last season while averaging 13:06 per contest. He's mustered only 68 points in 190 career games across parts of five campaigns.

His underlying numbers were strong this past season, though:

Filip Zadina, placed on waivers by DET, is a young winger. Underlyings strong in a small sample of fourth-line minutes, but his production and finishing just hasn't been there. #LGRW pic.twitter.com/D7qF6mC11o

- JFresh (@JFreshHockey) July 3, 2023

Detroit selected Zadina, who starred for the QMJHL's Halifax Mooseheads in his draft year, one spot before Quinn Hughes in 2018.

Copyright (C) 2023 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.