LD Nikita Zadorov (2013, 16th, BUF; traded to COL)

[JL17]

London released their other import. Just Bergman.

I see something similar to Glodbin happening with Zadorov. Zadorov mind isn't in junior hockey. It wasn't here last year either. He wants to play with men.

 

[Macman]

Why do they want him playing in Russia "even less" than him not playing at all?

Moving to Canadian juniors was terrible for Zadorov's development. Do they want to finish off his hockey career for good now?

Yes, if only Canada could develop as many world-class defencemen as Russia does.

 

[Peter25]

Yes, if only Canada could develop as many world-class defencemen as Russia does.

Canadian juniors are terrible for Russian players in general. That has been proven time and time again.

Zadorov is another one in a looooong list of Russian players whose development was destroyed in the Canadian juniors.

Let him go to Russia to save what is left of his career for crying out loud! And let Grigorenko go with him.

 

[Peter25]

London released their other import. Just Bergman.

I see something similar to Glodbin happening with Zadorov. Zadorov mind isn't in junior hockey. It wasn't here last year either. He wants to play with men.

Great!

Another year playing against 16 year old kids when he could be playing with/against Radulov and Kovalchuk in Russia.

But this must be the fastest way to the NHL!11!!

 

[ZeroPT*]

Why do they want him playing in Russia "even less" than him not playing at all?

Moving to Canadian juniors was terrible for Zadorov's development. Do they want to finish off his hockey career for good now?

uh huh

 

[Peter25]

uh huh

You disagree?

 

[Kshahdoo]

Great!

Another year playing against 16 year old kids when he could be playing with/against Radulov and Kovalchuk in Russia.

But this must be the fastest way to the NHL!11!!

Nah, those kids choose their ways, and they must pay if something goes wrong. They aren't some headless chickens afterall..

 

[UsernameWasTaken]

Screws his draft stock up. Yakimov was a surefire 2nd rounder maybe even late 1st but fell to third round due to KHL factor. Same thing happened to tarasenko and kuznetov. Zadorov probably goes 20th or around there if so.

Nope, Zadorov would not have went in the first round had he stayed in Russia, probably not secound round either.

I think the obsession with 'draft stock' that players have is really stupid and can do more harm than good if it means going to a league that isn't advantageous in the long term.

Yeah, no. Buffalo isn't sending the kid to the KHL. If they didn't think that idea was utterly terrible, they would've done it already. Nobody wants him to lose precious development time sitting on the bench in Buffalo, but they obviously want him playing in Ruissia even less.

I really question the competency of management/coaching in Buffalo if they think it's better for Zadorov not to play at all than to play in Russia. I would say this is to be expected given how badly Grigorenko's been handled - but management's changed since then so I don't know what the current excuse is.

 

[Peter25]

Nah, those kids choose their ways, and they must pay if something goes wrong. They aren't some headless chickens afterall..

There are two major problems:

1. They are only kids and they can be influenced by bad advices to make decisions that are not good for their development.

2. These kids are usually the most talented hockey players in Russia in their age groups. If (and when) their development is ruined by moving to Canadian juniors it hurts the Russian hockey as a whole.

 

[Blind Gardien]

You disagree?

Zadorov looks like an exception so far, although it's too early of course to try to reach for a conclusion either way. But his progress in London has been great, I'd say. To the point where an NHL team is already contemplating keeping him instead of sending him back to junior, despite him being a junior-aged player. I can't see what more he could have accomplished if he had been developing somewhere else.

 

[Peter25]

Zadorov looks like an exception so far, although it's too early of course to try to reach for a conclusion either way. But his progress in London has been great, I'd say. To the point where an NHL team is already contemplating keeping him instead of sending him back to junior, despite him being a junior-aged player. I can't see what more he could have accomplished if he had been developing somewhere else.

No, he looks like a rule. Dozens of Russia's best prospects have been ruined in Canadian juniors. They go to play there, regress and in a few years quit their careers.

Zadorov had the physical tools to be a great defenseman, but his development was ruined by playing against kids instead of men.

 

[Blind Gardien]

No, he looks like a rule. Dozens of Russia's best prospects have been ruined in Canadian juniors. They go to play there, regress and in a few years quit their careers.

You may think that is the rule, and it is certainly an arguable trend (which, incidentally is off-topic in this thread and any general discussion of it which doesn't center on Zadorov will be deleted)...

Zadorov had the physical tools to be a great defenseman, but his development was ruined by playing against kids instead of men.

... but the Zadorov case sure doesn't seem to fit. Zadorov is 19 and on an NHL roster... he went from a gangly-potential-laden 17 year old to a 1st round pick to an NHL preview and OHL star at 18... he's really a case of a player developing really well, I don't see how you can argue that his "development was ruined"... at the very least, that's an extremely premature statement. Even if you think there is a general rule, you have to accept the exceptions when they come along, because there are always exceptions, and it just makes you look a little too fanatical about it if you try to paint a clear exception (or at least, strong exception candidate) as fitting your "rule".

The risk in his development would seem to be his current NHL situation, if anything.

 

[ZeroPT*]

You disagree?

London was great for his development. He said it himself that he was limited in Russia, but since moving to NA he's gotten more freedom offensively and he's been better coached. I'm not making this stuff up, he said it himself.

He's just not ready for the NHL and he has nothing left to do in juniors.

 

[vorky]

London was great for his development. He said it himself that he was limited in Russia, but since moving to NA he's gotten more freedom offensively and he's been better coached. I'm not making this stuff up, he said it himself.

He's just not ready for the NHL and he has nothing left to do in juniors.

how limited? He played MHL (major juniors) when his peers (born 1995) played among kids. Junior coach saw a talent in him and got him a chance among juniors as soon as possible. If he stayed, he would play among men since 18.

I dont know if he said it... if yes, then it was because NA fans/agent wanted him to say it. He was forced.

 

[ZeroPT*]

how limited? He played MHL (major juniors) when his peers (born 1995) played among kids. Junior coach saw a talent in him and got him a chance among juniors as soon as possible. If he stayed, he would play among men since 18.

I dont know if he said it... if yes, then it was because NA fans/agent wanted him to say it. He was forced.

He was limited in terms of playing. He said that coaches in Russia wanted to focus on defence and defence only, but when he got to NA, the hunters wanted him to jump in and join the offence. This added versatility to his game.

And I'm not even going to address the 2nd point because that may be one of the most ridiculous thing I've ever read on this site. And that's saying a lot.

 

[vorky]

He was limited in terms of playing. He said that coaches in Russia wanted to focus on defence and defence only, but when he got to NA, the hunters wanted him to jump in and join the offence. This added versatility to his game.

And I'm not even going to address the 2nd point because that may be one of the most ridiculous thing I've ever read on this site. And that's saying a lot.

as I said, not true

 

[ZeroPT*]

as I said, not true

Wonderful counter argument.

 

[habsrule4eva3089]

Wonderful counter argument.

[MOD]

Doesn't realize Russia is the worst country among the top ones at developing defensemen for a reason, They're not even even top 5 in the World at developing defensemen prospects and there's a reason for that, how flawed their development program is for defensemen, at least when they come here they learn there's two ways to play the game. But then again, playing against men is most important. Just stay back and play defense, never learn about the offensive side. It might be 2040 before we hear one Drew Doughty come out of there lol.

 

[lifeisruff]

And the dream of him going to Rochester dies.....from Amerks beat writer for Rochester Democrat and Chronicle

Kevin Oklobzija @kevinoDandC · 2h 2 hours ago

Per asst. GM Mark Jakubowski, #Sabres have only 2 choices with D Nikita Zadorov: keep him in NHL or send him to London of OHL.

Kevin Oklobzija @kevinoDandC · 1h 1 hour ago

Nikita Zadorov can't be loaned to #Amerks "and the league wouldn't allow us to assign him to the KHL," #Sabres asst GM Mark Jakubowski said.

Kevin Oklobzija @kevinoDandC · 1h 1 hour ago

More on Nikita Zadorov from #Sabres asst. GM Mark Jakubowski: "He is under contract to London and that's the only place we can send him."

Kevin Oklobzija @kevinoDandC · 1h 1 hour ago

Dallas was allowed to loan Julius Honka to AHL because he was in loan from Finnish team to Swift Current last season. Had no WHL contract.

Kevin Oklobzija @kevinoDandC · 1h 1 hour ago

Sorry, last tweet re: Honka should have read "on loan" to Swift Current. The arctic chill at BGRI has taken a toll on my fingers.

 

[hockeykid87]

Just send him back to London and get it over with

 

[jvirk]

Would rather him just play in the NHL for 40+ games this season and practice with the team full time rather than him play another year in juniors. I feel like that would be better for his development.

It's not like we're doing crap this year...might as well let him play on the 3rd pairing and move Risto up to the 2nd pairing.

 

[UsernameWasTaken]

Would rather him just play in the NHL for 40+ games this season and practice with the team full time rather than him play another year in juniors. I feel like that would be better for his development.

It's not like we're doing crap this year...might as well let him play on the 3rd pairing and move Risto up to the 2nd pairing.

It's not better development for a player to have practices and not be playing. Ray Ferraro discussed this fact last week on the radio.

 

[dire wolf]

It's not better development for a player to have practices and not be playing. Ray Ferraro discussed this fact last week on the radio.

Seems like there are pros and cons either way. My take on Zadorov is that he was getting a little cocky/lazy and developing bad habits in Juniors. I'd rather that he be surrounded by guys who know how to prepare and train properly, and have to fight just to get to 3rd pairing minutes. Some players might be too discouraged by getting schooled at the NHL level, but it might be a good thing for Zads.

 

[tsujimoto74]

Just send him back to London and get it over with

They can't.

@BillHoppeNHL
In regards to @kevinoDandC's tweets, Zadorov's agent just told me said the #Sabres can technically send Nikita Zadorov to London ... (1/2)

but the Knights would still have to request Zadorov's release from the KHL for him to play there. (2/2)

 

[bruinsfan46]

Based on what I've heard in London, Zadorov might not have any interest in returning to the Knights. I agree with what JL17 said above, his mind isn't in junior hockey anymore.