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

[1972]

How can highlight's still be that bad of quality in 2014...

 

[Mit Yarrum]

He's going to be a stud. Good lord.

 

[TossinSauce]

He's going to be a stud. Good lord.

And Buffalo's his prom date.

 

[w e l o s t b o y s]

Scored a nice shorty tonight

 

[Aela*]

Thanks! Really good to hear so far. What would you say is the biggest improvement necessary for him to translate to the next level?

Probably his acceleration, he's a really big guy, great skater, but isn't that great at coming back to defend a breakaway say for example because he isn't as fast as others.

He doesn't need to improve his physicality but it would be nice, that's about it honestly.

 

[ZeroPT*]

Probably his acceleration, he's a really big guy, great skater, but isn't that great at coming back to defend a breakaway say for example because he isn't as fast as others.

He doesn't need to improve his physicality but it would be nice, that's about it honestly.

Awesome. Loving this pick so much

 

[LaVar]

Have this kid in my keeper league!

 

[Woodhouse]

Scored a nice shorty tonight

That he did and here it is:

 

[phosphene*]

That he did and here it is:

I'm assuming that's the goalie who ran himself out of the rink. Nice move by Zads but it was a bit of a softy.

 

[Flair Hay]

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.

That was my biggest hesitancy with him. Now that he's picked up his offense I have changed my tune pretty quick. Russian factor can be a bit scary but he seems to have a pretty good handle on adapting to NA life in general too from what people are saying ITT.

 

[start winnin]

Lmao, that was such a softy by the goalie, but Zad's speed and his hands were on display there.

 

[EichHart]

That was my biggest hesitancy with him. Now that he's picked up his offense I have changed my tune pretty quick. Russian factor can be a bit scary but he seems to have a pretty good handle on adapting to NA life in general too from what people are saying ITT.

Grocery shopping with Grigs.

 

[Nabru]

delete

 

[Paxon]

I'm assuming that's the goalie who ran himself out of the rink. Nice move by Zads but it was a bit of a softy.

Garbage one-on-one defense as well, but he did his job. Love seeing him up on the rush on the PK.

 

[MacOfNiagara]

I'm not sure if there's already a thread on him, but he deserves his own IMO. I've been very impressed with him throughout the pre-season and in London's home opener tonight. He's huge (6'5", 220lbs), can skate well for his size, has decent hands and hits like a mack truck. He can contribute in every area of the game. He looks very, very promising.

Zadorov has been working hard over the summer and put on 18 pounds, now playing at 6'5" 238#. Really excited to see his play at Traverse City and training camp.

 

[FamilyGuy716]

I hope he has the Hockey IQ to be on the top pairing (down the road). He has everything else.

 

[MacOfNiagara]

I hope he has the Hockey IQ to be on the top pairing (down the road). He has everything else.

Agreed. Tough to tell at this point how much of it is an innate lack of thinking the game at a high level and pace, and how much is the result of being an anxious teenager playing in the NHL.

 

[Woodhouse]

From last night's preseason game, here's a Zadorov hip check that left Beninati unimpressed and didn't even register a blip on his radar compared to Walker's hit. Both flipped their target.

 

[pigpen65]

From last night's preseason game, here's a Zadorov hip check that left Beninati unimpressed

Unimpressed is an understatement. He didn't even acknowledge the existence. Guy must smear a handful of Vaseline into his eyes before each game.

 

[Sundinisagod]

I think Zadorov is beast in the future. I like him more than Ristolainen for example.

Can't help but salivate at the thought of them being a pairing.

 

[tsujimoto74]

Can't help but salivate at the thought of them being a pairing.

I love the idea of a blue line with those 2 and Myers filling 3 of the top 4 spots. 6'8", 6'5", and 6'4", and all good to great skaters, and 2/3 of he group with a natural mean streak. Big, tough, and mobile...What more could you want?

 

[Sundinisagod]

I love the idea of a blue line with those 2 and Myers filling 3 of the top 4 spots. 6'8", 6'5", and 6'4", and all good to great skaters, and 2/3 of he group with a natural mean streak. Big, tough, and mobile...What more could you want?

Noah Hanifin. You'd have the best top 4 in a few short years from now.

 

[pigpen65]

Noah Hanifin. You'd have the best top 4 in a few short years from now.

They were a stupid ping pong ball away from having Ekblad in there now.

 

[EichHart]

They were a stupid ping pong ball away from having Ekblad in there now.

Sabres would have taken Reinhart over Ekblad. They had him #1.

[nhl]631067[/nhl]

 

[tsujimoto74]

They were a stupid ping pong ball away from having Ekblad in there now.

Ping pong ball or not, Reinhart was going to be the Sabres' pick.