Defender hopes to do his part after signing six-year contract July 1
BRIGHTON, Mass. — Nikita Zadorov signed a six-year, $30 million contract (average value of $5 million per year) with the Boston Bruins hockey Jerseys on July 1, and he’s excited to join a team with Stanley Cup aspirations.
“I want [to have] the best chance to win a championship,” Zadorov said Monday. “I put my heart and soul into what I do, I put my heart and soul into everything I do, and now that I’ve been here for six years, I want to put my heart and soul into [being] a Bruin and trying to win a Stanley Cup here.”
Last season, Zadorov had 20 points (six goals, 14 assists) in 75 games with the Calgary Flames and Vancouver Canucks, and eight points (four goals, four assists) in 13 Stanley Cup playoff games with Vancouver.
Zadorov was selected in the first round (16th overall) by the Buffalo Sabres in the 2013 NHL Draft and has 146 points (47 goals, 99 assists) in 642 regular season games with the Sabres, Colorado Avalanche, Chicago Blackhawks, Flames and Canucks, and 19 points (eight goals, 11 assists) in 58 playoff games.
If the Bruins do win the Stanley Cup the following season, Zadorov will almost certainly play a key role.
“The presence that ‘Z’ brings is going to be big for us,” Boston general manager Don Sweeney said on July 1. “He played a lot of the first four games against top players in the playoffs, and that got him a little cocky. He’s really seen some growth and probably more clarity on what he’s capable of.”
Zadorov’s history with Boston dates back to his NHL career. His first goal came against the Custom Boston Bruins ice hockey Jerseys on Oct. 23, 2013, in just his second NHL game with the Sabres. Boston won 5-2, but Zadorov smiled as he remembered his new captain, Brad Marchand, was on the ice as he battled for his goal.
After Zadorov signed, Marchand, forward David Pastrnak and defenseman Charlie McAvoy were the first players to reach out to him.
“‘Marchie’ is on the ice. He got a point deduction, so I’ll let him know,” Zadorov said.
Zadorov also worked with Boston coach Jim Montgomery in the past, when Montgomery coached the University of Denver and Zadorov played for the Avalanche. Montgomery would invite NHL players to skate with the Pioneers during the offseason, and Zadorov was impressed with his future coach.
But the player Zadorov is most familiar with is center Elias Lindholm, who also signed with Boston on July 1 (seven years, $7.75 million). The two played together for the Flames and Canucks over the past three seasons.
Lindholm, 29, had 44 points (15 goals, 29 assists) in 75 games with the Flames and Canucks last season. He had 82 points (42 goals, 40 assists) in 82 games in 2021-22, 61 for Calgary, playing alongside Johnny Gaudreau and Matthew Tkachuk and finishing second to former Bruins center Patrice Bergeron for the Frank J. Selke Trophy as the NHL’s best defensive forward.
“It definitely helps when your friend is also signing with the same team,” Zadorov said of Lindholm. “I’m excited for him. … He’s a really good addition and I’m excited to have him on my team, that’s for sure.”
