Former Vancouver Canucks defenceman Nikita Zadorov is never afraid to speak his mind.
The quote machine had an epic rant last night after he took issue with Detroit Red Wings winger Lucas Raymond’s actions.
Raymond drew a slashing penalty on Zadorov and shook his hand vigorously to let the referee know he’d been hit. The Boston Bruins blueliner made sure the media knew what he thought of that action postgame.
“I don’t like when the guy is shaking his hand, I barely touched his hand. I think that’s got to get out of the league,” explained Zadorov to reporters. “It’s a man’s league, we all get slashed, we’re all in pain, but we don’t go like this and show the referee you got slashed.”
“I think it’s just a little bit disrespectful, so I went after him.”
Zadorov gave Raymond another cross-check, although just the original slash was called as a penalty.
Nikita Zadorov slashes Lucas Raymond and follows it up with a crosscheck. Zadorov only called for the slash. pic.twitter.com/vIQbeHZf7r
— Bear With Me (@BearWithMe_Pod) December 4, 2024
The 6-foot-6 defenceman was clear that he thought Raymond crossed a line. When asked about the referees, he even said that they were likely in agreement.
“I think even they agree it should be out of the league, you don’t sell penalties,” said Zadorov about the veteran officials working the game.
He hit Raymond squarely with the subsequent cross-check, although he didn’t have a second minor tacked on for it.
That was quite an unnecessary crosscheck to the back of Raymond by Zadorov#LGRW #RedWings pic.twitter.com/OZEdJyCd9l
— Hockeytown Rundown 🐙🎄🎅 (@HockeytownRD) December 4, 2024
Zadorov endeared himself to Canucks fans last year with his always honest postgame press conferences. The defenceman signed a six-year, $30 million contract with the Bruins last summer and while he had a slow start, he’s picked up the pace recently.
The Russian has two goals and three points in his last four games and is now up to eight points in 27 games this year.
The Canucks have reportedly called the Bruins exploring the possibility of getting Zadorov back in a trade, but talks went nowhere.