Toggle sidebar

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

  • Xenforo Cloud has upgraded us to version 2.3.6. Please report any issues you experience.
  • We are currently aware of "log in/security error" issues that are affecting some users. We apologize and ask for your patience as we try to get these issues fixed.
42 said:
What's the likelihood he's in the NHL next season?
Click to expand...

I say give him a tryout and if he needs work you obviously send him back down. It's not like we're dying for defense next year, I'd feel more comfortable giving him one more year then we can start the 2015-2016 season with Zads and Risto as 3/4.
 
I remember how pissed i was when buffalo drafted him and Risto, think how annoying its going to be to play against the sabers in 5 years. hopefully Tim Murray doesn't rush him next year. dear god imagine a pairing of Zadorov and Risto.
 
Ranked #6 prospect overall in that future hockey magazine. Didnt even have this guy on my radar... it would seem that he has broken out hugely this year? Any chance he becomes an elite player?
 
RickyR said:
Ranked #6 prospect overall in that future hockey magazine. Didnt even have this guy on my radar... it would seem that he has broken out hugely this year? Any chance he becomes an elite player?
Click to expand...

I'd say he has the tools. Skating,Size,Mean streak,Hockey sense,Offensive game,Physicality. But I think the term elite player is a bit much. I think he'll end up like Kronwall and be a perfect #2.
 
Jtown said:
I think if Buffalo had to do it over again they would have selected Nichuskian at 8 and zad at 16. That would have been sick
Click to expand...

That's definitely what I wanted at the draft, but we certainly can't complain with Ristolainen and Zadorov. I'm insanely excited for Zadorov. This guy plays exactly the brand of defense I love to see and he's one of the most confident players at that age I've ever seen.
 
2G 2A tonight against Windsor. Can anyone tell me how he has been playing for London the last two playoff games? Seems like he is rounding out his offensive game.
 
I believe his offensive game at the time of the draft caused him to drop a bit but he seems to be improving on that at an incredible rate.
 
bruins999 said:
There was nothing ever wrong with his offensive game. It was lack of opportunity in certain situations which has changed this year. If he cleans up some of the finer things like mindlessly skating in the defensive zone, he'll be fine. If he's developed properly, there's no reason why he can't be a # 1 d-man in the NHL. He has all the tools you look for in a hockey player.
Click to expand...

From his own comments this summer, he wasn't really asked or allowed to do much offensively when he played in Russia, so it was all a bit new for him in London on top of adjusting to the North America on and off the ice.

It was clear watching him that he had the capacity to be a dynamic offensive player even though he didn't have a lot of opportunity to run with it last year. I think the scouts just dropped the ball questioning his offensive upside. I personally had him as my second preferred choice for us at #8 if Ristolainen weren't available or our GM didn't want Risto. Things worked out pretty good there.
 
I remember reading an article pre 2013 draft proclaiming Zadorov as the next big draft bust due to the author comparing point totals from dmen drafted in round 1... Yeah so much for that great piece :lol: I hope I can find it because its hilarious, the kid has been stellar offensively now and is easily projected to be a true all around #1 dman. Hope to see the kid play 24+ mins a night and put up 40+ points a season when he reaches his peak. Zads and Risto have me so giddy for the future that I am hoping we actually move Myers to strengthen our forwards corps. Our back end will be fine even without Myers with Zads, Risto and Pysyk locking up 1/2 of our D core for the next 10 years.


Edit: found the article http://www.defendingbigd.com/nhl-dr...ll-nurse-defensive-defensemen-dangers-zadarov

Yes, we are very "wary" after the lackluster offensive performance from Z this year at the WJCs and the O :sarcasm:
 
Zadorov is beast :yo:

Can Knights fans elaborate on how he played the two playoff games, obviously 2G/2A is great but it's his defensive play that I'm more interested in.
 
Stop Winnin said:
Zadorov is beast :yo:

Can Knights fans elaborate on how he played the two playoff games, obviously 2G/2A is great but it's his defensive play that I'm more interested in.
Click to expand...

Last half of the game last night he got a little lost in trying to get his hat trick...

But big physical, effortless skating, big shot making things look easy.
 
JL17 said:
Last half of the game last night he got a little lost in trying to get his hat trick...

But big physical, effortless skating, big shot making things look easy.
Click to expand...

How does he compare to other recent London guys (Maata,Tinordi,Harrington,etc..)
 
ZeroPT said:
How does he compare to other recent London guys (Maata,Tinordi,Harrington,etc..)
Click to expand...

Makes it look easier then they did. At times he doesn't look like he's trying and just blows by the dman and cuts it to the net untouched.

Not as smart as the 3 you mentioned but his tools IMO a better at the same age.
 
JL17 said:
Makes it look easier then they did. At times he doesn't look like he's trying and just blows by the dman and cuts it to the net untouched.

Not as smart as the 3 you mentioned but his tools IMO a better at the same age.
Click to expand...

Thanks! Really good to hear so far. What would you say is the biggest improvement necessary for him to translate to the next level?
 
Layne Staley said:
I remember reading an article pre 2013 draft proclaiming Zadorov as the next big draft bust due to the author comparing point totals from dmen drafted in round 1... Yeah so much for that great piece :lol: I hope I can find it because its hilarious, the kid has been stellar offensively now and is easily projected to be a true all around #1 dman. Hope to see the kid play 24+ mins a night and put up 40+ points a season when he reaches his peak. Zads and Risto have me so giddy for the future that I am hoping we actually move Myers to strengthen our forwards corps. Our back end will be fine even without Myers with Zads, Risto and Pysyk locking up 1/2 of our D core for the next 10 years.


Edit: found the article http://www.defendingbigd.com/nhl-dr...ll-nurse-defensive-defensemen-dangers-zadarov

Yes, we are very "wary" after the lackluster offensive performance from Z this year at the WJCs and the O :sarcasm:
Click to expand...

The "lengthy articles" the link drew from were pretty good. Nik at the time of the draft was considered a risk based on the fact that only 10% of all D men taken between 1999-2008 that didn't achieve a threshold of .6 PPG average in their draft year went on to become NHL regulars.There were some very attractive outliers on the list of 12 D men that did beat the odds to become NHL regulars but in 100% of the cases the outliers had a breakthrough year "offensively" in their Draft +1 season and the good news for the Sabres is that Zadorov has done just that.

I see know reason why Nik won't be very good at the NHL level but the base set of articles written in this study were eye opening for me at least and I am far from a stats guy.
 
Last edited:
I think Zadorov is beast in the future. I like him more than Ristolainen for example.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Latest posts

Ad

Ad

Top Bottom