Rumor: Nikita Zadorov Would Welcome Move To Toronto

[LeafGrief]

A 3.75m third pairing defender who's looking for a raise this summer? Oh boy.

I mean, I would love to have Zadorov, you can't teach size like that and he smoked Bertuzzi last night. But he plays 18 minutes a night everywhere he goes and we cannot afford his contract to stick on the third pair. Anyone thinking that he's going to turn into a minute munching monster is putting hopes in front of realities. Zadorov's 18 minutes a night isn't going to replace Muzzin and set things right. And please spare me from the "he's stuck behind XYZ" arguments, he's spent most of his career on bad teams and if a 6'6 guy could handle 22 minutes there isn't a single coach in the league who wouldn't ride that. He's well cast as a #5 that we would love to have, but we need to be shopping for a #2.

If we were tearing our team down to the studs and moving at least two of the big 4, then by all means let's go get Zadorov. Right kind of player, can probably lock him up for another five years, great piece to have. But the reality is that we should not even be dreaming of spending futures in a season where the wheels have all but fallen off.

 

[Commander Clueless]

I like Zad but I don't know if he's the solution here.

If they acquire him, they still only have one healthy defenseman in top 4 form. McCabe and Brodie should be, but they aren't playing like it.


Maybe the Leafs could retain on Klingberg and send him back at an even cap hit, or send back Kampf (don't think I'll like the sweetener that will take).


Can we get Zad AND Tanev?

 

[The Iceman]

As a pending UFA, I'd think Klingberg + McMann and a 3rd- 4th rounder could get this done

KLING has a negative value. No positive at that cap hit.

No chance McMann (A 27 year old career AHL player)and a 3rd or 4th is enough for Zadarov

 

[lowski]

Who thinks Andrew Peeke is Justin Holls doppelganger...or am I out to lunch on that one?

Looks the same, built the same, plays the same...

 

[Da Mash]

Would they take Reese straight up?

Don’t think they can ask for much seeing how he is a FA next yr

How about trade them Burtuzzi? Not sure they want that cap hit tho

Domi?

I wouldn’t trade Any of our kids…for a rental

Can he plays on the right side? Or is Gio moving to the right?

supposedly he can play both sides

 

[Machinae]

Benoit and Lagesson are playing well enough, is Zadorov even an upgrade on McCabe?

The Leafs need an all situation top-4 D who can move the puck to replace Muzzin.

 

[Macallan18]

Klingberg and a first for Zadorov, it will be that expensive.
Some retention as well by Calgary.
We will be bidding against the Devils.

 

[TMLAM34]

Rielly - Brodie
McCabe - Liljegren
Zadorov - Lagesson

Let’s go!

 

[Da Mash]

https://x.com/watchmyreview/status/1723332713589952989?s=46&t=VgEtxxkCOAdmAtKdMrg7oQ

 

[Ianturnedbull]

Would they take Reese straight up?

Don’t think they can ask for much seeing how he is a FA next yr

How about trade them Burtuzzi? Not sure they want that cap hit tho

Domi?

I wouldn’t trade Any of our kids…for a rental


supposedly he can play both sides

 

[Da Mash]

 

[Mess]

Zadorov is the player from the Flames I was suggesting BT go and get all summer as he starts to assemble his big, mean and mobile Dcore of the future.

Poor Treliving he walks away from TJ Brodie and grandpa Gio years ago on Calgary and then ends up Leafs GM and stuck with them again.

 

[1specter]

Zadorov is the player from the Flames I was suggesting BT go and get all summer as he starts to assemble his big, mean and mobile Dcore of the future.

Poor Treliving he walks away from TJ Brodie and grandpa Gio years ago on Calgary and then ends up Leafs GM and stuck with them again.

You know TJ Brodie leads the defense in +/- right?

 

[Gallagbi]

You know TJ Brodie leads the defense in +/- right?

Were off the +/- train in this post, apparently.

 

[TorMapleJays]

Brad is in on this for sure. The Flames connection and Zadorov wanting out. He would definitely toughen up the back end. A big difference between him and Klingberg's play style.

Him and McCabe would really provide some stability on the back end for sure.

 

[IPS]

Zadorov is the player from the Flames I was suggesting BT go and get all summer as he starts to assemble his big, mean and mobile Dcore of the future.

Poor Treliving he walks away from TJ Brodie and grandpa Gio years ago on Calgary and then ends up Leafs GM and stuck with them again.

There's alot of things to criticize on this team right now and TJ Brodie ain't one of them. Weird take.

 

[Future]

There's alot of things to criticize on this team right now and TJ Brodie ain't one of them. Weird take.

TJ Brodie is a good regular season defender but the playoffs exacerbate his fear of physical play. Frail and anxious. Crumbles under a heavy forecheck.

 

[Drytoast]

We can't afford him.

 

[arso40]

Is rather see him with Liljegren as a strong second pair once Lilly is healthy.
I think they would complement each others strengths and weaknesses better. Liljegren moves the puck well and plays smart defensive hockey but has issues clearing the net front and doesn’t really worry anyone physically.
Zadorov is a beast physically but at times doesn’t make the best defensive decisions. Both are strong where the other is weak.

If you want a new cheap partner for Rielly I’d suggest looking into Peeke. A physical stay at home RHD and that is the kind of Dman Morgan has normally played his best hockey with. To bring them both in they would probably have to move one of Brodie or McCabe to make the cap work in addition to Klingberg but he should be cheap to acquire and would certainly give the Dcore a whole new look

I like you man your a smart guy couldn’t have said it better myself so I won’t t even try hahahaha

 

[Dekes For Days]

We don’t need??
Sweet Jesus, what world do you inhabit friend? Guys we’re set on D

Nobody said we're set defensively. Our defensive results have not been good this season, but adding a bottom pairing LD is not the way to solve that, and Zadorov costs 3.75m and is not really worth throwing out any significant assets to acquire. If we can swap Klingberg for him, I'm game, but that seems unlikely. What seems more likely is Treliving overpaying for a familiar face that tends to get overrated by people like Treliving, who Treliving has already overpaid before.

 

[Rude Dog]

Would really like Zadorov on this team. They need someone like him. I wonder if the leaf would trade Niemela? Not sure how he has been progressing? Leafs need good young D, but he is also another softish blue liner.

 

[arso40]

I think Brad has to make two moves, bring in Zadorov and then blast Klingberg to the moon and bring in Peeke at the deadline.

Timmins returns from injury and that’s 7-8 defenseman you can work with

Why wait? That’s our mistake every year start earlier give them time to gel I like them both a lot but do not get fleeced

 

[arso40]

You have over 9m between Brodie and Klingberg gone next year.

Doesn’t mean we over pay for him though

 

[hullsy47]

Doesn’t mean we over pay for him though

Only make moves to make u better.id take hannifan

 

[arso40]

Add him for Klinberg and a prospect like Robertson .. immediately improves our D

No unless by like you mean someone else