Could Zadina be another Sweeney recovery project?

Could former Detroit Red Wings forward Filip Zadina become another rebound project for Boston Bruins general manager Don Sweeney?

Philip Zadina, the sixth pick in the 2018 NHL Entry Draft, became an unrestricted free agent on Friday after he and the Detroit Red Wings mutually agreed to terminate his contract due to what appeared to be irreconcilable differences. Zadina wanted a fresh start with another team so badly that he turned down $4.56 million. Zadina had two seasons remaining on a three-year, $5.4 million ($1.8 million AAV) contract that would have paid him $1.83 million in 2023-24 and $2.73 million in 2023-24.

In 23-year-old Zadina’s 128 NHL games over five seasons with the Red Wings, he scored just 28 goals and 40 assists. He was also -51.

So why would the Boston Bruins, who have already lost forwards Taylor Hall and Tyler Bertuzzi and are likely losing captain Patrice Bergeron and longtime center David Krejci to retirement, want to take a chance on a player who so far looks like a loss?

Well, one year ago this Thursday, Sweeney and the Bruins took a chance on another sixth overall pick (2015 NHL Entry Draft) in then-25-year-old Pavel Zacha. Last July 13, the Bruins acquired Zacha from the New Jersey Devils in exchange for forward Erik Haula. The Boston Bruins signed Zacha to a one-year, $3.5 million contract. Many NHL insiders, media and fans (especially Devils fans) wondered what Sweeney did to take a chance on Zacha. At the time, Zacha hadn’t quite dropped yet, but like Zadina, he didn’t live up to the potential of being the sixth overall pick with 69 goals and 110 assists in 386 career NHL games.

Pavel Zacha came in and made Sweeney look like a genius. The 199-pound forward from Brno, Czech Republic had seven goals and 21 assists in his first 43 games with the Boston Bruins. It was enough to sign the then-prospect 2023 unrestricted free agent to a four-year, $19 million ($4.7 million AAV) contract. Playing on the left wing in the often used and successful “Czech Line” with center David Krejci and right wing David Pastrnak, Zacha finished the season with 21 goals and 36 assists in 82 games.

Overall, speaking to numerous NHL pros and two NHL executives, Zadina appears to be a more challenging recovery project than Zacha was. However, if the Bruins could get the 6-foot-1, 190-pound Pardubice native of the Czech Republic for one year in the $850,000-$1 million salary cap space, it might be worthwhile to establish another Czech line. clicks.