In a surprising development, despite earlier reports suggesting that Filip Zadina’s future was tied to the Buffalo Sabres, the free agent forward is now expected to sign a professional tryout (PTO) deal with one of three other teams instead. According to Czech reporter Pavel Barta, Zadina is deciding between the Toronto Maple Leafs, Montreal Canadiens, and Colorado Avalanche, all of whom have offered him a tryout for their upcoming training camps. “Agent Darren Ferris informed Lance Lysowski of the Buffalo News that Filip Zadina is close to securing a PTO deal, but it will be with a team other than the @BuffaloSabres. There has also been speculation about @MapleLeafs, @Avalanche, @CanadiensMTL,” Barta reported on X on August 27.
If Barta’s report is accurate, the 24-year-old Zadina is likely to choose one of these three teams in hopes of earning a regular-season roster spot if he can prove his value during the PTO. Zadina was a highly touted prospect when the Detroit Red Wings selected him with the sixth overall pick in the 2018 NHL Draft. However, in six NHL seasons, he has only managed to score 41 goals in 262 games. Despite his modest track record, Zadina’s youth and potential continue to attract interest from teams eager to help him reach his full potential. Montreal’s interest in Zadina is especially notable, given that they passed on him in favor of Jesperi Kotkaniemi with the third overall pick in 2018. At the time, Zadina famously said he would “fill their net” with goals, a claim that has since become ironic considering his underwhelming goal-scoring numbers. Zadina is coming off his best season in terms of goal-scoring, with 13 goals and 10 assists for 23 points in 72 games with the Sharks during the 2023-24 regular season. For teams like Montreal, Toronto, and Colorado, Zadina represents a low-risk, high-reward opportunity as they gear up for the upcoming season and aim to build a contender or bolster their already strong rosters.
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