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With the third overall pick in the upcoming draft the Habs will have plenty of options, and there is a definite lack of consensus regarding the direction they will go.  Czech winger Filip Zadina is one of the most intriguing options and, though there was some talk he could get drafted by Carolina to play him with Martin Necas, there is a very good chance he’s available when they make their way to the podium.

While he isn’t the centre or help on defence that the club desperately needs, Zadina brings something else the club desires – goals and plenty of them. He put up 44 in just 57 games as a QMJHL rookie last season with Halifax and was a standout at the World Junior Championship with seven goals on a surprising Czech team. Zadina is an elite, dynamic scoring winger with good size and instincts, so while he may not be the first line centre they desire, there is no doubt he would be a great addition to Montreal and immediately upgrade their top six.

Bio

Right Wing
Shoots: Left
DOB: November 27, 1999
Height: 6’1
Weight: 192

Rankings

CSB: 3 (North American Skaters)
ISS: 3
McKeens: 3
Hockey Prospect: 4
Future Considerations: 3
The Hockey News: 4
Recrutes: 4
TSN (Button): 3

Statistics

Scouting Report

Zadina is a dominant offensive force with the ability to assert himself in important moments and make a difference.  He is a left shot winger that plays on the right side and likes to cut to the middle and utilize his tremendous shot, which features lightning quick release and pinpoint accuracy. An explosive and agile skater, Zadina has the ability to exploit defenders one on one with his slick puck handling skills.

Filip has adjusted well to the North American game in a short amount of time and has been successful on a variety of stages, including the aforementioned WJC and playing against men in his native Czech Republic. Competitive and passionate, Zadina brings a 200 ft. game and good size in addition to his sublime offensive talent.

Timeline

Along with Rasmus Dahlin and Andrei Svechnikov, Zadina is one of the most NHL-ready prospects in the 2018 NHL draft class. There is a strong possibility that he would immediately make the jump to the NHL and be ready to make an impact right away. The addition of Zadina would make the potential departure of another scoring winger for more assets far more palatable and may enable the team to make the moves necessary to address other issues. For a club looking for scoring help, which the Canadiens always are, Zadina may be the answer in both the short and long term.