By: Jason Cooke | Follow me on X @cookejournalism
Don’t confuse Nikita Zadorov with former teammate and offensive juggernaut, Cale Makar. Zadorov, a 6-foot-6 behemoth, knows his limitations. He’s defense first—using his dominant force to intimidate the opposition every shift—but he also knows he has a special knack with the puck on his stick.
“I have that touch,” Zadorov said after a training camp session Wednesday. “If I get a chance I’m going to shoot the puck, and if I get a chance to make an assist, I can make an assist. I’m not a Cale Makar with super high IQ and high-skilled offensive defenseman, but I know my strengths and I can also chip in offensively.”
Zadorov, who was brought to Boston as a free agent this summer to boast Boston’s physicality and snarl on the back end, inked a six-year, $30 million contract with the B’s that has him cemented in Boston’s defensive depth as the 29-year-old hovers in the prime of his career.
His 248-pound frame is hard to miss, and he uses it to create havoc on the blue line. Just ask Brad Marchand, who’s had the challenge of playing against Zadorov since his new teammate entered the league in 2013-14.
“He’s amazing,” said Marchand. “He’s an absolute animal and he can do it all. He has offensive abilities, he’s big, he’s mean, he doesn’t care, and he’s a predator out there. I absolutely love it—I played against him and I hated it, but I love having him in our group.”
Zadorov hits Causeway Street after a season where he played for both the Calgary Flames and Vancouver Canucks, totaling 6-14-20 in 75 games. In the 2022-23 season with the Flames, Zadorov netted a career-high 14 goals in a campaign where he suited up in all 82 contests.
“I think he’s going to surprise you with his ability to make plays,” head coach Jim Montgomery said last week. “And I’m not just saying like scoring goals, but making plays at the offensive blue line. His hockey sense and his brain is very good, it’s a lot better than people give him credit for.”
Zadorov will be the first to admit he’s “defense-first.” But playing in an environment where blueliners are encouraged to contribute to an offensive game excites him, especially given the opportunity to likely play alongside Charlie McAvoy.
“I’ve always been a defense-first guy in my career, but I love the offensive game,” Zadorov said. “I’m enjoying that, I love jumping on the rush and making plays. It gives me pretty good joy to do that, especially in such a skilled group in here and such a skilled partner in Charlie.
“There’s always a time and place for specific plays. My physical game is not going to go away, that’s why I’m in the league and that’s why people pay me money–that’s why they signed me. So, that’s my goal, is defense first.”
The Bruins’ defensive core suddenly has some substantial more heft to it. The smallest player on the depth chart, McAvoy, is listed at 6-foot-1. But in that same breath, Don Sweeney has brought in puck-movers with some offensive capabilities, including the emerging Mason Lohrei. The Bruins are not only bigger but they are primed to pack some more fireworks with the puck this season.
“The way he can transport the puck and shoot it, there’s not many guys that have the ability to skate, move the puck, and shoot it the way he does and be physical. He brings every element to the game,” Marchand said.
Zadorov is set to make his Bruins preseason debut on Thursday against the New York Rangers, according to Montgomery. The “big bad Bruins” may very well be on their way back.
“I enjoy hockey overall, so it’s everything,” Zadorov said of his physical style of play. “Obviously physically it’s a little bit easier for a guy my size to be physical and try to close plays and intimidate players and piss them off. It’s my role, and I’m embracing it and I’m enjoying it.”
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