Maple Leafs & Canadiens Set To Battle To Sign Former No. 6 Pick

In an unexpected turn of events, after the initial report painted a future linked to the Buffalo Sabres, it looks like free agent forward Filip Zadina will ultimately sign a professional tryout (PTO) deal with one of three other teams instead of Buffalo.

According to Czech reporter Pavel Barta , Zadina will choose one franchise among the Toronto Maple Leafs, Montreal Canadiens and Colorado Avalanche, all of them having submitted tryout contracts to the forward for the upcoming training camps.

"Agent Darren Ferris told Lance Lysowski of the Buffalo News that Filip Zadina is nearing a PTO deal, but will instead sign with another team @BuffaloSabres. There was also speculation about @MapleLeafs, @Avalanche, @CanadiensMTL," Barta reported on X on August 27.

If Barta's information is correct, then 24-year-old Zadina should pick one of Toronto, Montreal and Colorado to try to force his way back into the NHL if he proves he's worth signing a regular-season roster spot following the end of his PTO deal.

Zadina was a top-tier prospect entering the league when the Detroit Red Wings drafted him with the No. 6 pick in the 2018 NHL Draft. However, over six seasons in the NHL, he has scored just 41 goals in 262 games.

Given his youth and potential, Zadina still draws interest with franchises still believing in the reclamation project and aiming to help him reach his peak with their organization.

Montreal's pursuit of Zadina is particularly interesting, given their history with the player. The Habs passed on Zadina with the No. 3 pick in 2018, opting instead for Jesperi Kotkaniemi.

At the time, Zadina claimed he would "fill their net" with goals, a statement that has since become a point of irony given his subpar goal-scoring record.

Zadina is coming his best season on the goal-scoring front, netting 13 goals and assisting 10 more for 23 total points in 72 games with the Sharks in the 2023-24 regular season.

If nothing else, Zadina makes for an appealing low-risk, high-reward opportunity for teams like Montreal, Toronto and Colorado as they prepare for the upcoming season, trying to build a contender or strengthen their already strong cores.

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