Toledo Walleye forward Dylan Sadowy has become a free agent after the Detroit Red Wings declined to make a qualifying offer to the left winger on Tuesday.
Sadowy, a 23-year-old from Woodbridge, Ont., played in parts of the last three seasons for the Walleye.
The 6-foot-1, 205-pound forward averaged more than a point per game for Toledo this season with 46 points (23 goals and 23 assists) in 43 games. He then played in 24 playoff games and was part of the deepest postseason run in the team's 10-year history. Sadowy had 17 points with seven goals and 10 assists as the Walleye reached the Kelly Cup finals for the first time.
Sadowy appeared in 88 regular-season games in Toledo and tallied 79 points (36 G, 43 A). He also played in 33 playoff games and had 21 points (10 G, 11 A).
Sadowy (pronounced SAD-oh-way) was selected in the third round of the 2014 NHL draft by San Jose. The Red Wings then traded for Sadowy in May, 2016, in exchange for a future third-round draft pick.
Walleye coach Dan Watson said Sadowy's goal should be to earn a contract with an American Hockey League team.
“Hopefully he's ready to make the next step. I hope another organization sees it and he runs with it,” Watson said. “The offense will be there. It's just other details in his game. He has gotten much better. With his production at this level, I would love to see him become a full-time AHL player.”
Sadowy, a gifted goal scorer with a good shot and a nose for the net, signed a three-year, entry-level contract with the Red Wings in 2016. The left winger has bounced between Toledo and its AHL affiliate Grand Rapids in his three seasons.
Sadowy played in 65 regular season games for the Griffins and had seven points (5 G, 2 A). He made his first appearance with the Walleye in February, 2017, at age 20.
Watson compared Sadowy's situation to that of former Walleye forward Zach Nastasiuk, who helped lead the Charlotte Checkers to the AHL title this past season.
Nastasiuk, who played for Toledo from 2015-18, led all AHL players in the postseason with two shorthanded assists. He had four points with two goals and two assists in 19 games.
The forward appeared in 130 regular season games for the Walleye and produced 88 points with 40 goals and 48 assists. Nastasiuk also played in 16 playoff games for Toledo and collected nine points (5 G, 4 A). The Red Wings opted not to extend a qualifying offer to Nastasiuk on June 25, 2018, and he became a free agent.
Nastasiuk was drafted in the second round of the 2013 NHL entry draft by the Wings. He spent his first three seasons in the pros splitting time between the Walleye and Toledo's AHL affiliate in Grand Rapids.
“Dylan will get a fresh start just like Nastasiuk,” Watson said.
Detroit also declined to make a qualifying offer to former Walleye forward Martin Frk, who played in parts of two seasons in Toledo (2013-14 and 2014-15). Frk went on to play in 98 NHL games for the Red Wings.
First Published June 26, 2019, 12:02 a.m.
