Report: Filip Zadina injured during offseason workouts.

It has not been an easy road to the National Hockey League for young forward Filip Zadina and that road is not getting any easier for him.

Once projected to be the second overall pick at the 2018 NHL Entry Draft Zadina's stock seemingly plummeted at that very same draft when he was selected sixth overall by the Detroit Red Wings organization. The Red Wings and then general manager Ken Holland had not intended to select a forward at that year's draft but with Zadina falling into their lap they felt that they had to pull the trigger.

Since that pick Zadina has struggled to make his mark in the NHL, although to be fair to the young man he is only just 19 years old still and has only competed in a single season under the Red Wings umbrella. He did appear in 9 NHL games last season, recording 1 goal and 2 assists for a total of 3 points and recording a plus minus rating of -5 over that stretch, spending the remaining 59 contests with the Grand Rapids Griffons of the American Hockey League. Many felt prior to the draft that Zadino could have an immediate NHL impact, but after training camp and a brief stint on the team it became obvious that the Red Wings felt some seasoning was in order.

Unfortunately for Zadina he was not rewarded for being a good soldier as he suffered a rather ill-timed injury during his offseason workouts, one that forced him to miss a 3 on 3 tournament during Red Wings development camp. The good news for fans though is that Zadina appears to still be very hungry, and even admitted he tried to sneak his way into the aforementioned tournament.

"Sure, obviously I would love to be on the ice," Zadina said. "I actually tried to ask the physio, Russ (Baumann), if he can put me out there but he said no, we have to hold you back. It was kind of sad moment but obviously I'm still having a good time here in development camp."

The injury occurred roughly 2 weeks ago and according to Zadina it happened while he was trying to make himself stronger and better prepared for the challenges of the National Hockey League.

"I was trying to do lots of lower body to get my legs stronger and quicker," Zadina said. "But it happened, the injury, two weeks ago so I couldn't do much right now. So I'm just trying to be patient and get healthy as soon as possible and then start again and just probably get, I don't know, stronger and quicker and be probably more, I don't know, faster on the ice."

Although the injury is obviously disappointing from a player that fans are hoping to see a lot more of this season, you can hardly blame Zadina for getting injured while doing exactly what you would want a player his age to be doing at this time of year.