By: Tom Calautti | Follow me on Twitter @TCalauttis
The Boston Bruins sent shockwaves through the hockey world on March 7th when they traded captain Brad Marchand to the Florida Panthers. Dealing the 16-year veteran officially signaled the end of the ‘2011 Stanley Cup Era’ and has forced the Black and Gold to begin forming their new leadership core. One player who could help usher in a new era is defenseman Nikita Zadorov.
Zadaorov’s first season in Boston has had its peaks and valleys, but perhaps no moment was as momentous as Tuesday night’s fight with longtime heel Sam Bennett. The Bruins led 3-2 with three seconds remaining in the contest when Bennett landed a cross-check in the head and neck area of Zadorov. The 6’6″ behemoth took exception to the cheap shot, grabbed Bennett, and laid a smackdown on him that’s been brewing since 2023.
“Yeah, I haven’t been that fired up in a long time. That was unbelievable,” said Mason Lohrei following Zadorov’s scrap. “I mean (Zadorov) does so much for us, right before that he saved a goal, the puck went out of play, and we all know what happened next. I love watching him play, as I’m sure all of you guys do too.”
With Marchand out the door and Charlie McAvoy on the shelf for the foreseeable future, there’s a gap in this team’s leadership group behind David Pastrnak. And while the (should be) Hart Trophy candidate has done an admirable job leading the charge post-deadline, it’s Zadorov’s influence that has opened eyes both inside the locker room and out.
“I just think (Zadorov) cares a ton about this group and this team and he has a passion for it,” said goaltender Jeremy Swayman. “It’s just so good to see him have success and do things at the right time. He’s building his game the right way which we can all really rally behind because he’s a big player for us, he’s a role player, and, you know, guys are going to get a ton of momentum off of him when he’s buzzing.”
Although the shock of the trade deadline still hasn’t sunk in for some fans, it’s undeniable that this iteration of the Boston Bruins looks vastly different from its predecessor. The team has a noticeable pep in its step, more jump to its game, and although it’s a small sample, it has jumped out to a 2-1 record while beating two of the league’s top teams.
Zadorov has had a massive impact on the team over this stretch of three games, averaging 20:19 per game and posting 1-1-2 with a +2 rating. He and Lohrei have taken on heightened roles since the injuries of McAvoy and Hampus Lindholm, in addition to the trade of Carlo.
“When you’re missing a couple of your top defensemen, you know, you need other guys to step up,” said interim head coach Joe Sacco after the win over Florida. “(Zadorov) has been doing that lately…He’s been battling, he’s been working hard.”
The work ethic and the attitude mentioned by Sacco drew the attention of General Manager Don Sweeney this offseason. It may have taken some time to materialize, but those intangibles are becoming more present in his game and the locker room.
“I mean, the presence that (Zadorov) brings is important to us,” said Sweeney on July 1st. “Playing a lot of top four minutes in the playoffs against top guys comes with a bit of swagger, he has certainly seen his game grow and probably get a little more defined in what he’s capable of doing.”
The Bruins are two points out of the final wild card spot in the East with 15 games remaining. A lot of work has to be done to make the playoffs, but even if they don’t, it’s clear that there’s been a culture change in the locker room and with the team. Plenty of factors are at play, but you can’t overlook Zadorov’s impact on this (suddenly) young squad.
“All the guys since (the trade deadline) have been showing up ready to work their balls off and play for the crest,” said Zadorov after the victory over Florida. “There’s no quit in this team and we’re going to keep pushing until the end.”
He continued, “We’re just trying to build the momentum we haven’t had all year. You get a couple wins, you start feeling great, you feel confident (as a group), I think that’s a good thing. Something’s brewing for sure.”
Whether that ‘something’ materializes into a playoff berth this year, or a reinvigorated group next year, it looks like the Boston Bruins have found one of their new leaders going forward.
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