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In recent years, the Halifax Mooseheads have become a veritable factory of top NHL Talent. Nathan MacKinnon, Jonathan Drouin, Timo Meier, Nikolaj Ehlers, Nico Hischier, have all gone through program. This year’s top Mooseheads prospect is Filip Zadina. The Czech Winger was the 11th overall pick in the CHL Import Draft, but after his season in Halifax is likely to be drafted even higher in the NHL Draft.
Zadina scored 44 goals and 82 points in just 57 games for Halifax. He also had a real coming out party at the World Junior Championships, where he scored seven goals in seven games and was named to the tournament all-star team.
Filip Zadina Scouting Report
Right Wing — shoots Left
Born November 27th, 1999 — Pardubice, Czech Republic
Height 6’1″ — Weight 192 lbs [185 cm / 87 kg]
Skating
The Czech winger is a good but not great skater. He has decent top-end speed but is not going to be confused with a speedster. The lack of elite top-end speed is the only thing holding back his skating though. He shows great agility and the ability to make quick cuts and get by defenders. He also has the power necessary to fight through checks and take the puck to the net. All of this makes him very strong one-on-one and off the rush. He can take a defender wide and cut to the net, fighting through any checks along the way. He also has very good balance and can control the play down low on the cycle.
Offensive Game
Zadina is a pure and talented goal scorer. He has a very heavy wrist shot, with a good release. He can combine this with his skating and power game to be a real threat off of the wing. An absolute sniper, he can score with his wrist shot, snapshot, slap shot and one-timer. He even has a strong backhand. Zadina takes advantage of his shooting skill, as he generates a very high number of shot attempts every game. Zadina also has the soft hands to score in close to the net. He can bury rebounds, deke goalies, and get tip-ins. He has a knack for getting himself open, finding soft areas on the ice even when everyone is watching him.
As a playmaker, he needs to make better decisions with the puck. Zadina can sometimes hold on to it for too long and get himself into trouble instead of moving it quickly. He has the passing skill to get it through tight openings and make tape-to-tape passes when he does move it. He is willing to work in the cycle game, and to battle along the boards and in front of the net. Zadina is not afraid to get to the dirty areas of the ice in order to create offensive chances. He will need to put on weight in order to do this at the next level.
Defensive Game
Zadina’s works hard in the defensive end and has even been used on the Mooseheads penalty kills. He plays high and cuts off the points cutting off passes to the blue line, and getting in shooting lanes when defenders do have the puck. His positioning and footwork can be further refined, but it is already at a decent level given his age.
Projection and Comparison
Zadina has the potential to be a franchise-defining winger, capable of scoring at an elite rate. There will need to be continued development, including gaining strength. It is not clear if Zadina will be NHL ready right away. He will get the chance, but it is possible he needs a bit more seasoning. In terms of comparison, Zadina’s game is reminiscent of Patrik Laine. This is a style comparison only though, and not one based on skill level or potential.
Highlights
The following is a compilation of some of the many highlight packages of Zadina that are available on youtube.
Check back tomorrow for the next prospect on our draft board.
Main Photo: BOISBRIAND, QC – OCTOBER 20: Filip Zadina #11 of the Halifax Mooseheads skates the puck against the Blainville-Boisbriand Armada during the QMJHL game at Centre d’Excellence Sports Rousseau on October 20, 2017 in Boisbriand, Quebec, Canada. The Halifax Mooseheads defeated the Blainville-Boisbriand Armada 4-2. (Photo by Minas Panagiotakis/Getty Images)
