Fill in the blank: “Nikita Zadorov is a number BLANK defenceman”

[Pavel Buchnevich]

Too much ability to be a 6. Doesn't have the hockey sense to be more than a 5.

 

[biturbo19]

Ideally #5. Might be ok with the ideal partner in a top 4.

Modern day Andy Sutton.

I don't remember Sutton ever having anything like the dynamic ability of Zaddy. As a skater, goal-scorer, or honestly even as a hitter or physical presence. Zadorov has games, or parts of games where he looks like a #1D for a shift. Then others where he looks like Luca Sbisa.

Sutton always struck me as a lot more consistent, but meh.

 

[ffh]

He's definitely a number 2 if you know what I mean.

 

[Bileur]

I don't remember Sutton ever having anything like the dynamic ability of Zaddy. As a skater, goal-scorer, or honestly even as a hitter or physical presence. Zadorov has games, or parts of games where he looks like a #1D for a shift. Then others where he looks like Luca Sbisa.

Sutton always struck me as a lot more consistent, but meh.

Generally agree that Zadorov has shown more flashes of high level play, but they’re just flashes. Zadorov is 28. He is what he is at this point. That’s a guy with a 22 point career high. I think overall his presence and usage is similar to Sutton’s (ideally third pair but can be second pair with ideal partner).

I think you may be forgetting how physically imposing and aggressive Sutton was. He played with the most disregard for other’s safety I’ve seen from the sens. These are all from one season:



(The video being age restricted somewhat says it all)

If you’re reading a Sutton comparison as a negative, it’s really not, I like both players and would gladly add either to my team.

 

[Bounces R Way]

#5 on the ice, #1 in my heart

 

[x Tame Impala]

If he's a top 4 guy on your team, good luck in the playoffs.

He's like those random UFA's you would pick up in EA Franchise mode that weirdly had 98 slap shot power and body checking but were like a 78 OVR.