He can't be assigned anywhere because he and his agent are not asking his KHL team for permission because they want to force Buffalo's hand into giving him a roster spot or sit him.
LD Nikita Zadorov (2013, 16th, BUF; traded to COL)
- Thread starter HockeySauce
- Start date
Where was this reported?
All I saw today was the sabres AGM saying the league would only let them send zadorov to London...and they wouldn't even let them send him to the khl. That was in the democrat and chronicle.
We already know from london buffalo hasn't even called them.
I disagree with you and agree with Mosaku:
He hasn't been assigned to London because either Zadorov or the Sabres (or both, probably both) don't want him in London. If the KHL team is really blocking him from being assigned then he should be assigned and the CHL/OHL and the Knights will fight like hell with the IIHF to get a guy who doesn't have a KHL contract but is being blocked by a KHL team from playing for the Knights. I just think that's all lip service that he's being blocked because he doesn't want to play in London.
Which itself is stupid. Their "hes too big for Junior" mantra is foolish. The Flyers didn't think Morin was too big for Junior and he likely would have made their team if they could have freed up a roster spot. And Philadelphia is arguably a much better team at developing players than Buffalo has recently been.
The Sabres might not want to be outright honest about this fact that they got a kid who's bound by the CHL-NHL agreement but are trying to get around it because the kid isn't interested in another year of OHL hockey.
It's not that whacky of conspiracy. It's pretty well known that Zadorov didn't want to play in the OHL last year and was upset when he got sent back. He played a lot of totally disinterested hockey when he did come back. The conspiracy that he doesn't want to play in the OHL makes a lot more sense to me than he's being blocked from playing by a KHL team that doesn't even have a contract with him, if they could do this why didn't block him last year? Why don't KHL teams block every player they own the rights to?
You said yourself London hasn't even got a call from Buffalo. If they were trying to assign him why not just assign him and let the IIHF work it out with the KHL club and if they have a case to block him from playing?
habsrule4eva3089
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The Sabres who are going to finish near the bottom, are playing Andrei Benoit over Zadorov. I mean common, give me a break, give the kid a chance. Playing a career minor league player who wouldn't make most teams in Europe let alone majority of teams in the NHL over a future stud.
Caser
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- May 21, 2013
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Sorry, I didn't read all the pages and maybe it has already been cleared, but can someone please explain me one thing:
What's the issue with KHL? Did Zadorov had something like a contract with CSKA before leaving to NA and his situation is like Nichushkin year ago, e.g. he needs a permission from CSKA Moscow team to play anywhere outside the NHL? Or it is just Zadorov and his agent playing games with Buffalo to get the permission to continue his development in KHL?
What's the issue with KHL? Did Zadorov had something like a contract with CSKA before leaving to NA and his situation is like Nichushkin year ago, e.g. he needs a permission from CSKA Moscow team to play anywhere outside the NHL? Or it is just Zadorov and his agent playing games with Buffalo to get the permission to continue his development in KHL?
Which backs up my theory. Think about it.
Zadorov TODAY can only play one place. Buffalo. Why wouldn't he try to keep it that way? It's what he wants.
If CSKA agrees to waive his contract for this year then Zadorov can play in Buffalo or London. That's it. Those are the only 2 places he can play and ONLY is CSKA allows it.
Zadorov does not want to play in London. When he is on Buffalo's roster he collects an NHL salary and his agent takes an NHL cut.
The fact that Buffalo hasn't even discussed any of this with London would means they don't think there's any reason to because they've been told either from CSKA or from Zadorov's agent that his KHL contract will NOT be waived this year. They have basically been told "don't bother talking to London because Nikita is NOT going there".
If Buffalo wanted Zadorov to be in Buffalo he would be playing right now. He's not. Zadorov and his agent (likely his agent) are basically telling Buffalo "you can play me in Buffalo or I can not play at all" to which Buffalo has replied "then enjoy practice". Ted Nolan even said himself the coaching staff has been working him like a dog in practice to the point Zadorov has blown a fuse or two. Nolan's reasoning of course is that he needs the conditioning.
Either CSKA or Zadorov is playing hard ball here. Could it be CSKA? Sure. God knows that NHL teams have dicked over enough KHL teams so it's only fair. But I see very little reason for CSKA to not allow Zadorov to play in London considering he's not even eligible to go back to the KHL. UNLESS they were told by Zadorov's camp that they didn't want to go back to London. Which is what I believe is happening.
He has no contract, CSKA drafted him but never signed. According to vorky here: http://hfboards.mandatory.com/showpost.php?p=91236357&postcount=6
Which leads me to believe that your last question is the truest scenario.
Blind Gardien
nexus of the crisis
This. It's kinda true that Zadorov is "too good for the OHL"... but then, so are a handful of other players who are still playing in the league. He has some alternative options, maybe, due to his nationality, but at some point, just playing has to be in his ultimate interests.
Benoit was the 3rd leading defensman scorer for an NHL team that made the playoffs last year. How many young players is Buffalo gonna throw into the fire? Playing and losing might not be the best for him moving forward.
Old Navy Goat
Registered User
You should probably watch some Sabres games to see how bad Benoit is playing, and then comment because Zadorov would definitely be an improvement over him and Mez.
tsujimoto74
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- May 28, 2012
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Benoit is the worst player on the Sabres roster this season. Let that sink in. And Meszaros isn't far behind him either. Zadorov wouldn't have to do much to be an upgrade over either.
And nobody is getting "thrown into the fire." Buffalo has only 2 rookies on the roster, and neither of them are playing any games. Ristolainen isn't getting the minutes he deserves because Nolan would rather play crappy vets. Pysyk isn't even on the team he belongs with (could've been a full-time NHLer last season). Grigorenko arguably earned a roster spot as well, and look where he is. Girgensons is the only young guy getting any real chances (finally got put on the 2nd PP unit after being our best forward in the first handful of games). If anything, Buffalo is being overly cautious with these kids and not giving them apt opportunity to showcase what they can do at the NHL level.
It is funny that someone thinks we're throwing young guys into the fire when half of our board is angry about how little opportunity there seems to be when a young guy earns it.
Just...unreal that someone would say that.
Pysyk...down
McCabe...down
Grigorenko...down
Armia...down
Ruhwedel...down
Larsson...down
Carrier...down
Zadorov...0 games
Reinhart...6 minutes a night...sure looks like he's getting sent down
Ristolainen...getting to play and looking the part...but sheltered in situations more than he should be
Girgensons...played all year last year...still working his way up lineup despite probably being best forward in sad group already
I think that's all the picks of note to turn pro since 2010
...
OH THE FIRE HOW IT BURNS.
Just...unreal that someone would say that.
Pysyk...down
McCabe...down
Grigorenko...down
Armia...down
Ruhwedel...down
Larsson...down
Carrier...down
Zadorov...0 games
Reinhart...6 minutes a night...sure looks like he's getting sent down
Ristolainen...getting to play and looking the part...but sheltered in situations more than he should be
Girgensons...played all year last year...still working his way up lineup despite probably being best forward in sad group already
I think that's all the picks of note to turn pro since 2010
...
OH THE FIRE HOW IT BURNS.
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SuperNintendoChalmrs
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vorky
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vorky
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mouser
Business of Hockey
I harken back to Oklobzija's quote attributed to Sabre's AGM Jakubowski:
http://www.democratandchronicle.com.../10/21/sabres-or-london-for-zadorov/17666299/
That would seem to be at odds with Zadorov's agent statement that Zadorov does not have a contract with London.
http://www.democratandchronicle.com.../10/21/sabres-or-london-for-zadorov/17666299/
That would seem to be at odds with Zadorov's agent statement that Zadorov does not have a contract with London.
Just a huge fustercluck at this point. I'm sure behind the scenes where the truth is this all makes sense but it certainly doesn't at face value. Leave it to Buffalo reporting to find out none of the details we need to know. I don't want to know what Zadorov is eating for breakfast every morning but can't help but feel if this was in a lot of markets around the league we would have found out what was going on by now.
Zadorov's agent just practically confirmed my "conspiracy". The Zadorov camp feel they're done with the Knights. Maybe we can stop with the official story that Zadorov is being blocked from playing anywhere because his KHL team won't release him for the Knights. Zadorov isn't playing anywhere because Zadorov doesn't want to play in the OHL when he's bound to the CHL-NHL agreement as a player drafted out of the OHL. In the end I imagine CSKA Moscow will pay the Knights to release him and he'll have a team to play for shortly (CSKA Moscow although other European clubs are interested). A lot of misplaced blame at the Knights and the CHL-NHL agreement for Zadorov not having a place to play. Zadorov could play for London this weekend if he wanted to.
