Top prospect Zadina to join Mooseheads

Filip Zadina is bound for North America.

Zadina, third in Future Considerations’ preliminary ranking for the 2018 NHL Draft, has committed to the Halifax Mooseheads for the 2017-18 season, general manager Cam Russell confirmed Wednesday.

“We are extremely excited to have a player of Filip’s ability and skill level joining the Mooseheads this season,” Russell told the team’s website. “We’re confident that he will step in and become a leader for us on and off the ice. Filip is excited to come and play in Halifax and we’re very pleased to have him here.”

Zadina, the 14th overall pick in the 2017 Canadian Hockey League Import Draft, had nine goals and 18 points in 20 games with HC Pardubice U20, and one goal and two points in 25 games with HC Dynamo Pardubice in 2016-17.

He also helped the Czech Republic to its first gold medal at the 2016 Ivan Hlinka Memorial last August, and had three goals and six points at the 2017 IIHF World Under-18 Championship in April.

He joins fellow forward Benoit-Olivier Groulx (13th), defenseman Jared McIsaac (5th) and goaltender Alexis Gravel (60th) as 2018 NHL Draft eligibles who could be selected in the first round next June.