The most well-known insider in hockey is wondering about a Nikita Zadorov reunion with the Vancouver Canucks.
Canucks fans are wondering too.
The 6-foot-6, 248-pound defenceman became a fan favourite during his one-year run in Vancouver. He proved to be a great fit with the Canucks, and management wanted him back.
But after a terrific playoff performance, Zadorov and the Canucks couldn’t agree to a new contract. Zadorov later said he felt the offer from the Canucks was “disrespectful,” so he left for the Boston Bruins in free agency.
We’re only in the second month of the season, but Elliotte Friedman was pondering a do-over for the Canucks and Bruins regarding Zadorov in his 32 Thoughts column today.
On the surface, it makes sense. The Canucks desperately need an upgrade on defence, given the second-pairing struggles of Carson Soucy and Tyler Myers. The Canucks never wanted to lose Zadorov, and the big Russian wanted to stay — they just couldn’t agree on a price.
The Bruins, meanwhile, have had a tumultuous start to their season. They’re currently below the playoff bar in the Eastern Conference and just fired their head coach.
Zadorov has had an underwhelming start in Boston, with no goals and five assists in 20 games, averaging 19:10 of ice time per night.
Do the Bruins have buyer’s remorse? If so, perhaps there’s a deal to be made, but it won’t be easy.
Zadorov is 29 years old and is in the first year of a six-year contract worth $5 million per season. That’s a big cash investment to make — one the Canucks weren’t prepared to make back in the summer.
The Bruins would have to be willing to retain salary on Zadorov or accept money back in a trade.
If you’re looking to match salaries, Jake DeBrusk is a close match. The former Bruins winger is in the first year of a seven-year contract paying him $5.5 million per season. DeBrusk has had an underwhelming start to his Canucks tenure, with just three goals in 18 games.
Such a trade would effectively be like clicking an undo button for both organizations. But would it be the right move for the Canucks?
There are other defence options out there for Vancouver, notably Mike Matheson in Montreal and Marcus Pettersson in Pittsburgh. Those might be easier deals to complete, given the Canadiens and Penguins are both rebuilding. Consequently, they might be more willing to retain salary or accept future assets in return.
It seems like a question of when, not if, the Canucks will acquire a defenceman. The longer they wait to pull the trigger on a deal, the more buying power they’ll have as they continue to accrue cap space throughout the season.
But if this probably fictional DeBrusk-Zadorov deal is on the table, the Canucks could make that move now and look to add a winger instead at the trade deadline.
Just something to ponder.