How a new approach helped Sharks winger overcome some mental struggles

NHL: San Jose Sharks forward Filip Zadina gets rewarded with a four-point night against the Calgary Flames

Filip Zadina left millions on the table last offseason when he parted ways with the Detroit Red Wings and signed a modest one-year contract with the San Jose Sharks worth only a few hundred thousand dollars more than the NHL’s minimum salary.

It was a huge bet by Zadina on himself, one that brought with it a certain amount of pressure. And through the first half of the season, perhaps Zadina was feeling a bit of that strain.

It didn’t necessarily help Zadina that he was demoted to the fourth line, averaging less ice time per game than in his previous five NHL seasons. Before the all-star break, Zadina had just one assist in his last eight games, averaging just 10:31 in ice time per night.

Still, Zadina, even as he’s adjusted to a reduced role, has never stopped competing.

Thursday, that effort paid off in a career-best four-point night, as Zadina’s two goals and two assists paved the way to a 6-3 Sharks victory over the Calgary Flames.

“One thing about Z, he works his ass off, night in and night out,” said Sharks coach David Quinn, who helped recruit Zadina to San Jose last July. “You’re always going to get an honest effort.

“He puts an awful lot of pressure on himself, and he cares so much and wants to do so well, and sometimes that gets in his way. I think he’s been a little bit more relaxed lately. Nice to see him get rewarded statistically. But there’s definitely been some growth in his game here.”

Zadina, 24, said playing a smaller role has been a grind at times.

“I was just playing the way I was playing before,” Zadina said. “Obviously, it’s hard mentally because you’re not playing that much. You’re not really on the ice. But when you’re on the ice, you’re trying to be your best to help the team.”

Zadina’s work ethic and improved two-way game have been major reasons why he kept his spot in the lineup, despite the inconsistent production.

Against the Flames, his effort on the forecheck, not to mention his skill, helped lead to second-period goals by Mikael Granlund and Bailey as the Sharks took a 2-1 lead.

Then with his team holding onto a 3-2 lead, Zadina scored goals 37 seconds apart to put the Sharks up by three with 14:45 left in regulation time. One came on a beautiful deflection that fluttered past Flames goalie Dustin Wolf and into the net.

Zadina now has seven goals and 10 assists and is on pace to eclipse his career highs of 10 goals and 24 points, set in 2021-22 when he was 22.

More than points, though, Zadina’s been a better two-way player. On Nov. 23, after 19 games, Zadina was minus-19. In the 28 games since then, he’s only been a minus-4.

“Recently, I’ve done a better job in the D-zone,” Zadina said. “We’re not giving up that many goals. At the beginning of the season, obviously, the crazy number I had, so I’m trying to put a bandage on the wound and trying to get better and go lower a little bit.

“Once I do that, the hockey’s easier.”

Zadina doubles the lead with a beautiful deflection pic.twitter.com/JVG1fQO6K9

— Sharks on NBCS (@NBCSSharks) February 16, 2024

Zadina entered the NHL with high expectations after he was selected sixth overall by Detroit in 2018. But he was never a huge point producer with the rebuilding Red Wings, and perhaps it was unrealistic to expect that he would become one soon after he broke into the NHL.

He had 68 points In 190 games in Detroit.

Seeking a fresh start, Zadina left behind $4.56 million in actual money he was owed to become a free agent.

After he and the Wings mutually agreed to terminate his previous contract, he joined the Sharks on a one-year, $1.1 million deal in July, just $325,000 over the league minimum. He is slated to become a restricted free agent with arbitration rights after the season.

It was a slow start in San Jose for Zadina, no doubt. But it appears he’s discovered what he needs to do to remain in the NHL for years to come, whether it’s in San Jose or elsewhere.

“Everybody wants to score and we want people to score,” Quinn said. “But sometimes it doesn’t happen and in the course of a night, you’ve got to find different ways to contribute and take value in it, and that’s something I think (Zadina’s) doing a good job of.”

The Sharks are going to have to find ways – at least for the foreseeable future — to consistently generate offense without centermen Tomas Hertl and Logan Couture. Getting contributions from the depth of their lineup, like they did Thursday, is certainly a good start.

Besides Zadina, Bailey had three points for his career multi-point game in the NHL, and Luke Kunin scored twice to give him eight goals on the year.

“There’s things in the game that I think any player can improve on,” Bailey said. “It’s a much different game from line one to line four, so anytime you’re able to get the puck in (Zadina’s) hands in a scoring opportunity.

“Obviously he’s a high pick, he’s a skilled player for a reason and you saw that showcased tonight.”