By: Andrew Patten | Follow me on Twitter/X @a_patten11
When General Manager Don Sweeney signed Nikita Zadorov to a long-term contract in the offseason leading up to the 2024-25 season, Boston Bruins fans knew exactly what they were getting: a towering, physical presence on the blue line who wouldn’t hesitate to drop the gloves. The 2025-26 National Hockey League regular season proved exactly that. Zadorov brought his signature edge to the back end, serving as the team’s ultimate deterrent while setting a career-high with 20 assists on the side.
Over the course of the 82-game campaign, Zadorov officially dropped the gloves five times, instantly injecting life into TD Garden and fueling the classic Original Six rivalries. Here is a definitive ranking of Nikita Zadorov’s five fights from the 2025-26 season, judged by their impact, intensity, and pure heavyweight action.
Dakota Joshua (Toronto Maple Leafs) — March 24, 2026
Dakota Joshua has plenty of size and a reputation for playing tough, making him a perfect dance partner for Zadorov. After laying a hit on Maple Leafs forward John Tavares late in the second period, the two big men peeled off their gloves near the blue line in the early minutes of the third. Because of their matching height and long reaches, both guys struggled to find the perfect range for their haymakers early on. However, the sheer willingness of both players to stand in there and trade made it highly entertaining. Zadorov eventually used his strength to pin and control the exchange, securing the clear win. While it did not fully help swing the momentum in Boston’s favor that night, one could argue it helped the team get its act together before a crucial game in Buffalo the following night.
4. Samuel Helenius (Los Angeles Kings) — March 10, 2026
When the Kings came to town in March, their young 6-foot-6 forward Samuel Helenius decided to test his mettle against one of the league’s most feared enforcers. It was a classic clash of giants in the second period at TD Garden. After Helenius hit Charlie McAvoy from behind, Zadorov skated over immediately and dropped the gloves. He locked down Helenius’s jersey early, limiting the young forward’s leverage before landing a couple of solid, short-range right hands. The fight showcased the kind of teammate the man known as “Zaddy” in the locker room is. Someone who always has their back and won’t let them be taken advantage of.
3. Bobby McMann (Toronto Maple Leafs) — November 8, 2025
If someone ever asks you to describe Nikita Zadorov’s game, just show them this highlight. In an early-season tilt against the rival Toronto Maple Leafs, Zadorov set the tone following a physical sequence along the boards. Maple Leafs forward Bobby McMann found himself engaged with the 6-foot-7 Russian defenseman after Zadorov laid a thunderous hit on Scott Laughton. McMann is a sturdy player, but giving up size and leverage to Zadorov is a tough task for anyone. Zadorov quickly gained the upper hand in the grapple, using his massive reach to control the distance. While it wasn’t the longest or most explosive fight of his season, it served as an important reminder to a division rival that the Bruins would be a tough team to battle all season long.
2. Jayden Struble (Montreal Canadiens) — November 15, 2025
Nothing gets a crowd moving quite like a Bruins-Canadiens scrap. But how about one of the opening face-off? In mid-November, Montreal’s physical defenseman Jayden Struble stepped up to challenge Zadorov in a highly charged atmosphere at the Bell Center. Struble is built like a tank and brought some explosiveness to this tilt, catching Zadorov with a couple of quick shots right out of the gate. Zadorov had to rely on his chin and recovery skills, absorbing the early pressure before firing back with massive overhand rights of his own. The momentum shifted rapidly in a wild, chaotic sequence that left both benches standing. The fight set a physical tone for the evening, as for the first time in a while, it felt like the Bruins-Canadiens rivalry was officially back to the level it once was in the late 2000s-early 2010s.
1. Arber Xhekaj (Montreal Canadiens) — December 23, 2025
This was the heavyweight matchup everyone in the hockey world wanted to see. Two days before Christmas, the ultimate gift arrived at TD Garden when Montreal’s premier enforcer, Arber “Wifi” Xhekaj, squared off with Zadorov. There was no hesitation; as soon as the whistle blew, the gloves flew off.
What followed was a literal clinic in heavyweight hockey. Both players stood their ground at center ice atop the Spoked-B, completely discarding defense to trade absolute bombs. Xhekaj threw with immense power, but Zadorov answered every single punch with a heavy right hand of his own, showcasing his elite balance and core strength. The crowd was deafening as the linesmen finally stepped in to separate the exhausted warriors. This classic tilt didn’t just top Zadorov’s personal list for the 2025-26 season—it solidified his status as one of the premier protectors of the Black and Gold.
Ultimately, Nikita Zadorov gave the Bruins exactly what they paid for in the 2025-26 season: a blue line that teams feared to cross and a regular jolt of electricity for the TD Garden crowd. While his career-high 20 assists proved he can play the game, his five memorable scraps showed he is the undisputed sheriff of the Black and Gold. Whether squaring off with division rivals on opening puck drops or going toe-to-toe with one of the league’s heaviest hitters, Zadorov restored a legendary grit to Boston. If this past campaign was any indication, the big defenseman is going to be anchoring the Bruins’ defense—and keeping opponents looking over their shoulders—for a long time to come.
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