Should the Calgary Flames pursue a former top pick?

The Calgary Flames, according to new General Manager Craig Conroy came into the 2023 off-season with one clear goal in mind: get younger and quicker, and if that is truly the case, could this team target a recently released 23-year old? That 23-year old would be Filip Zadina, who recently decided to ‘mutually terminate’ his contract with the Detroit Red Wings, and while there will be a few interested parties, Calgary should no doubt be one of them.

After being drafted at No. 6 overall back in 2018, Zadina, for whatever reason just hasn’t worked out in Detroit, as he played in just 30 games for Detroit in 2022-23, failing to live up to the lofty expectations placed upon him when he was drafted. Now the question is, can he make that leap and become an effective player at the NHL level?

His best career year came the season prior in 2021-22 when he played in 74 games, tallying 10 goals and 14 assists, and after foregoing the remaining $4.56 million on his last contract, it’s clear that Zadina is betting on himself to fulfil that potential. That brings us to Calgary, and after the team landed Yegor Sharangovich, it’s clear that they are happy to bet on potential, meaning they should absolutely look into landing Zadina, as he has shown that he has the potential to be a solid bottom-six winger in the NHL, and with the skill to play both wing positions, he may be needed if the team move out a Dillon Dube type player in a big trade.

It’s unclear yet whether the team are looking to make a big trade for the likes of William Nylander, but if they are looking to continue the trend of moving veterans out for young, promising players, Zadina fits in perfectly with the timeline, and with his next contract likely to be a one-year prove it deal, being in Calgary away from the spotlight may be the perfect opportunity.

Ultimately, Zadina hasn’t yet shown he can be an elite, top-six player, but at the price point he’s likely to come in at, as well as the motivation he will have to prove himself, he could be a worthwhile risk as the team look to build a young core for the future.

So what do you think Flames fans? Is Zadina someone you’d like to see in Calgary on a cheap, one-year deal? Who could you see from the bottom-six being moved in a potential trade? What do you think the lineup looks like come October? As always, let us know all your thoughts in the comments below.