Is Filip Zadina the best forward in the 2018 NHL Draft?
You couldn’t help but notice him out there. Shift after shift, game after game. Wearing number 18 for the Czech Republic, there was never a moment where 18-year old sniper Filip Zadina wasn’t zipping around all over the ice, trying to create offense. His fluid skating, offensive instincts and laser-quick shot gave him an almost predatory aura on the ice – ever dangerous, ever on the prowl for his next goal. The 6’1”, 192 lbs winger also made sure to keep opposing defenders in a state of perennial confusion by regularly unleashing rockets from his natural left wing as well as his opposite off-wing.
While his efforts ultimately weren’t enough to help his country secure a medal at the most recent World Junior Championships, Zadina did manage to score seven goals in seven games – most of them highlight reel worthy.
Post his dominant performance in the WJCs, Zadina returned to the Halifax Mooseheads of the QMJHL where his effortless skating and powerful shot has helped make him a fan favorite. Having spent the majority of his young hockey career skating for HC Pardubice in his native Czech Republic, Zadina made the decision to spend the 2017-18 season in Halifax just this past summer. What helped make up his mind was when Mooseheads general manager Cam Russel described how fellow prospects Nico Hischier and Martin Frk had developed into NHL players through playing in the QMJHL.
“Now, they’re in the NHL. It’s a very good organization, so I said, ‘Yeah, I’ll play for Halifax because I believe they will help me pursue my dream’. I want to have a good season, have fun and we’ll see what it’s going to be like after the season,” Zadina told Richard Woodbury of CBC News when asked about his decision.
Once in Halifax, Zadina quickly displayed a natural aptitude for the North American game and his 69 points (39+30) in 47 games is currently tied for the scoring lead amongst all QMJHL rookies. Mooseheads head coach, Jim Midgley, feels Zadina has settled in nicely with the team:
“He seems to like his billets and likes everything he’s experienced so far,” Midgley told Metro Halifax. “He’s probably one of our hardest working guys in practice”.
While the key part to Zadinas game is his tremendous shooting capabilities – on the power play you’ll usually find him hovering around the right faceoff circle in a sort of “reverse Ovechkin” – what helps set him apart from other strong shooters is how incredibly accurate his shot is. Revisiting his goals scored in the WJC as well as the QMJHL, you’ll find an astonishing amount of corners picked and goaltenders sniped. Should you require additional evidence, look no further than his fantastic 18,8% shooting percentage this season with the Mooseheads.
The combination of a terrific WJC showing and impressive rookie campaign in “the Q” has helped propel Zadina up the prospect rankings ahead of the 2018 NHL draft. From starting the season as a fringe top-10 pick, he is now considered a safe bet to be selected among the first five players and some publications like Sportsnet.ca even predict Zadina being plucked off the board ahead of talented Russian prospect Andrei Svechnikov, a player who’s been the consensus #2 behind Rasmus Dahlin for a long period of time.
Is Filip Zadina the best forward in the 2018 NHL draft? The combination of NHL-level finishing abilities, impressive skating stride and tremendous work ethic certainly give him a claim to that title.
We won’t know until June 22nd, but if Zadina keeps developing like he has this season you just might hear his name being called right after Dahlin’s in Dallas.