Film Room: Filip Zadina hasn't worked out for the Red Wings yet, but patience is key

If you asked a pool of scouts ahead of the 2018 NHL Entry Draft, most would've had Filip Zadina earmarked for some lucky NHL team's top-six by the time he turned 22-years-old.

It seemed at the time as if he'd already outgrown junior competition. Not only was Zadina an incredible goal scorer in the QMJHL -- he led the Halifax Mooseheads in goals with 44 -- but he already had a professional season under his belt in the top professional Czech men's league. He was also on the older side of the draft class with his November birthdate.

All the signs pointed toward a fast-tracked NHL career for Zadina, but four years have passed since, and the Red Wings are still left waiting for him to establish himself as much of anything at the NHL level.

The Czech winger spent his draft-plus-one and -two seasons in the AHL, where his middle-tier production and inability to distinguish himself kept him from rising to the big leagues. Then last season the Red Wings started to use Zadina in a sheltered, bottom-of-the-lineup role. This was the year they finally gave him a solid look in the top-six, but his play forced him down the lineup in time.

The concerns are growing around the former sixth overall pick, to the point where insiders around the league are broaching a potential change of scenery. 

Is it time to readjust expectations around Zadina's development? Or is he still showing signs that he will, one day, become a top goal scorer for the Red Wings?