Player Discussion Nikita Zadorov

[MarchysNoseKnows]

Only two players on the roster have a + +/-

Koepke at +5
and
Zadorov at +14

+/- is a pretty dumb stat but it's bananas how far he is from the rest of the club considering he's being asked to shoulder big defensive minutes while the roster is tanking.

There's 44 point difference between him and Lorhei's -30.

And yet, if you want to look at a goaltending independent analytic (as one should do instead of using plus/minus), Zadorov is below Lohrei (and McAvoy, Lindholm, Oesterle, and Wotherspoon) for xGF%. And that doesn’t speak to how dreadful he’s been on the PK, or how’s only shooting 2.6%.

 

[Alan Ryan]

The only time I think it’s useful is comparing across a team, when somebody is this far out ahead of everybody else (and the only other guy that’s + is a guy who has been in and out of the lineup this year) he is decidedly not a problem


Lohrei being a -30 with 63% Ozone starts is wild. Bless his heart, get all the bugs out this year Mason!

Hope Lohrei can evolve. He’s a real liability in the defensive zone at this point.

 

[BMC]

Shocked McAvoy didn't have more than he does.

Zad is the defacto leader now, and I like him, he's learning on the job.

Welcome to the jun....er, I mean the board!!!

 

[Absurdity]

 

[PlayMakers]

And yet, if you want to look at a goaltending independent analytic (as one should do instead of using plus/minus), Zadorov is below Lohrei (and McAvoy, Lindholm, Oesterle, and Wotherspoon) for xGF%. And that doesn’t speak to how dreadful he’s been on the PK, or how’s only shooting 2.6%.

Zadorov has 326 Dzone starts, to Lohrei's 126. Naturally, his xGF% is higher, but only if you include all situations (like PP).

If you just look at 5on5, Zadorov's xGF% is higher than Lohrei's despite Zadorov getting all the difficult assignments, three times the Dzone starts, and Lohrei playing with Pasta.

 

[MarchysNoseKnows]

Zadorov has 326 Dzone starts, to Lohrei's 126. Naturally, his xGF% is higher, but only if you include all situations (like PP).

If you just look at 5on5, Zadorov's xGF% is higher than Lohrei's despite Zadorov getting all the difficult assignments, three times the Dzone starts, and Lohrei playing with Pasta.

I know all of that. But all anyone is talking about is plus/minus. I honestly don’t really think it’s possible to evaluate this crew with analytics this year - it’s been such a disaster and everyone is playing above their station. I know this place loves Zadorov - I hated him as a player in the other 6 cities or whatever he’s played in, and I hate him as a player now. Forbort got the puck off his stick faster than Zadorov does.

 

[PlayMakers]

I know all of that. But all anyone is talking about is plus/minus. I honestly don’t really think it’s possible to evaluate this crew with analytics this year - it’s been such a disaster and everyone is playing above their station. I know this place loves Zadorov - I hated him as a player in the other 6 cities or whatever he’s played in, and I hate him as a player now. Forbort got the puck off his stick faster than Zadorov does.

Fair enough.

 

[Alicat]

Love this. Makes me like him even more. Zaddy is a leader.

 

[PlayMakers]

That's good stuff. Takes responsibility for speaking out of turn. Clarifies that he didn't mean to throw shade at Sway, more that when you lose 7-2 you're pissed and you don't want to acknowledge any positives.

 

[RiverbottomChuck]

Great clarification on his part. It might be coping to find positives in the season but watching Pasta, Mac and Zads grow more as leaders has been a recent bright spot and makes me feel fairly confident in the next group of on ice leaders being able to harness all their failures to get it done one of these kicks at the can.

 

[Troublesome 85]

Some players bring other intangibles like leadership and heart.

 

[Gee Wally]

Boston Bruins defenseman clarifies comments about goalie’s near fight

Nikita Zadorov addressed what he said regarding Jeremy Swayman's near-fight in the Bruins' 7-2 loss to the Kings.

www.masslive.com

Nikita Zadorov’s comments, or lack thereof, about Jeremy Swayman challenging Darcy Kuemper to a fight in Sunday’s Bruins-Kings game caused a lot of conversation and speculation on social media.


“Is that what it is? I don’t know,” the Bruins defenseman said when asked if it was encouraging seeing Swayman step up to defend his teammate. “No comment.”

Fans on social media had theories that the locker room was divided, and that Swayman and Zadorov didn’t like one another.

After Tuesday’s practice, Zadorov addressed his postgame comments, noting he called Swayman right away afterward.



“When you ask a question like that after a 7-2 loss, the players are frustrated,” the defenseman told reporters. “Obviously at the time I was frustrated and whatever I said it wasn’t toward Sway. I didn’t expect that question and sometimes you gotta understand the situation we’re in. We were pissed after the game.”



Zadorov said there were a lot of negatives in Sunday’s game and didn’t want to lock in on a positive — especially after another deflating loss where nothing seemed to go right for Boston.



“Obviously, we appreciate in this room guys stepping in for each other,” Zadorov said. “That’s the culture that was here before I came here, and I’m trying to follow it as a guy who steps up for a teammate.”

Zadorov acknowledged that both he and Swayman are going be with the Bruins the next several years and that he’s hopeful to win a Stanley Cup with the Bruins — and with Swayman as his teammate.



“He’s a huge part of our team,” Zadorov said. “We’re gonna be together for a long time and (there’s) gonna be a lot of success with this team.”

 

[Number8]

Speaking of bird shit.....I got shit on not once but twice in Mazatlan last month.
Targetted? The Cartel? Hard to say.

Nonetheless... I like Zadorov, not crazy about all the penalties plus I think he could be even more physical. He talks. He speaks his mind. This team is leaderless except for Pasta.
Didn't mind at all what Zadorov said.

Swayman has been a colossal flop this year. He knows it. His teammates know it. The American people know it. He gets paid so handsomely and contributes so little.
Which brings us to the so-called fight. If he was so upset for what happened.....go fight. Cross that line dude!!!
Inviting a guy to fight? Its not a date. Go fight.
Swayman said later he did it "because he touched one of our guys".
Well you did nothing. Skated up to the redline and looking threatening. Where'd he learn that from? Frederic.

Zadorov exposed whats going on in that dressing room and it ain't pretty.View attachment 999121

I don't want to freak you out, but the chances of getting shit on by a bird twice in the same day is statistically zero. You, my friend, need to be on alert -- somewhere somehow you have pissed off important players in the avian world. I'd love to tell you it's going to be ok, but it's not. Until you atone for whatever you've done (and I'm sure you know just what that is) you are in for a rough ride. Until you are ready to make things right, get yourself a good golf umbrella.

 

[Number8]

The worst thing about this whole story to me is the media. Why the hell do they need to do locker room interviews after a shit show like that that is coming on the heels of another shit show in the midst of a long-running shit show? What's the point? Do the "fans" really need to know this crucial information? Then a guy gives a non-boiler plate answer and now look at the controversy. I don't know what Zadorov really meant by that, and almost surely no one in this thread does either, But, let's pile on the guy for it anyway, eh? And we definitely ought to be drawing conclusions about the state of the locker room from it, too.

Agreed. Fluto is no idiot, he's been around. I'd bet he saw the Swayman chest puffing show for what it was -- just like many of us here did.

And so, as another poster pointed out, he asks the toughest player on the team who regularly stands up for his teammates and then some, a leading question.

I would bet the answer he got back made Fluto extremely happy.

 

[EverettMike]

"It's the medias fault Zadorov said something shitty" was the obvious and inevitable end point for this.

 

[Number8]

Exactly. Ultimately I'm fine with how he's been this year. Physical, stands up for his teammates, has no issues mixing it up and has kept other guys honest. I look back to Jeannot earlier this year. Zadorov neutered him from the start of the game and he was known to run around against the Bruins. Zadorov hammered him into the boards, then later absolutely dummied him with an open ice hit. We haven't had that on the back end since Kevan Miller was around. Being a +14 on this team right now while the next closest is +5. He's one of only 2 positive players right now on this roster.

100%

Every year it seems fans get all hot an bothered by relatively small "overpays".

How many times over the past several years have fans complained about our defense being small and soft? Easy to play against? Zadorov is our McQuaid and Miller as you point out.

This team has issues and Zadorov is way down the list of the most concerning issues in my book.

The SHORT list of things I've enjoyed this year:

Zadorov being big and physical - some of his hits have been fantastic. He's a leader in my book.
Kastelic -- give me more.
Pasta -- as always he's so friggin' talented
Geekie -- credit where credit is due, he's been a bright spot.
Lohrei -- kid will be a stud.

Pretty short list, but sure..... let's bitch about Zadorov's contract.

 

[Hookslide]

"It's the medias fault Zadorov said something shitty" was the obvious and inevitable end point for this.

Not a fan of this media by any means, but he was doing his job. The player involved said what he felt, and I find nothing wrong with that, maybe it has been simmering, and many others in the room had similar feelings, and said nothing, Zadorov, had the balls to say what they didn't. This all goes back to Marchands comments coming out of camp. This shit show did not grow over night.

 

[Patdud]

"It's the medias fault Zadorov said something shitty" was the obvious and inevitable end point for this.

What exactly of what he said was "shitty".

And yes, the media's job is to spin words for clicks and views. Its how they make money. If they can create controversy out of something they will.

welcome to the digital age, good to have you.

 

[EverettMike]

What exactly of what he said was "shitty".

And yes, the media's job is to spin words for clicks and views. Its how they make money. If they can create controversy out of something they will.

welcome to the digital age, good to have you.

Pat, I have great news for you: there is a lengthy answer to your question already. It's called "this thread."

You might not agree, but the answer is there, written many times over, by both me and others.

 

[EverettMike]

:watches an unedited video of Zadorov answering the question:

"Ah, yes, the media spun this. It's the media's fault. I am very smart."

 

[Sheppy]

100%

Every year it seems fans get all hot an bothered by relatively small "overpays".

How many times over the past several years have fans complained about our defense being small and soft? Easy to play against? Zadorov is our McQuaid and Miller as you point out.

This team has issues and Zadorov is way down the list of the most concerning issues in my book.

The SHORT list of things I've enjoyed this year:

Zadorov being big and physical - some of his hits have been fantastic. He's a leader in my book.
Kastelic -- give me more.
Pasta -- as always he's so friggin' talented
Geekie -- credit where credit is due, he's been a bright spot.
Lohrei -- kid will be a stud.

Pretty short list, but sure..... let's bitch about Zadorov's contract.

The people don't like him because they cherry pick stats while ignoring literally everything else.

 

[Hookslide]

:watches an unedited video of Zadorov answering the question:

"Ah, yes, the media spun this. It's the media's fault. I am very smart."

Zadorov said it he should live with it no matter what, media is going to jump on it that's their job, not that we need to agree, I personally am not a fan of most of the media.

 

[BornAgainBruinsFan]

Zhadorov could be a bonafide All-Star with his skillset. He has all the tools to be a top-pairing, lock-down defenseman in this league. He is a better skater and has better edges and balance than Chara. He doesn't seem to have Chara's offensive ceiling or IQ, but he has a good release form from the point and a bomb of a clapper when he gets into it. In his puck extraction game, he appears to be on the lazy side.

I have watched him have a space advantage over forecheckers countless times. He could take two hard strides toward the puck and have a second before the pressure gets to him, but he chooses to attempt to use his length and girth instead of hustle and is then forced to decide without space, which no one at any level of hockey is as good at.

He could own this league if he would play with a bit more urgency in ALL situations. But he doesn't. More often than not, compete level is a DNA thing; some guys have it, and others don't.

He is still more than serviceable and adequate in his role, but he could be a 1A in the league if he did not rely on being bigger and stronger in every situation. I don't mind the penalty minutes for being bigger and stronger, but he could avoid so much of the contact that causes those PIMs if he would put a little booige in his butt when the opportunity shows itself.

 

[KnightofBoston]

100%

Every year it seems fans get all hot an bothered by relatively small "overpays".

How many times over the past several years have fans complained about our defense being small and soft? Easy to play against? Zadorov is our McQuaid and Miller as you point out.

This team has issues and Zadorov is way down the list of the most concerning issues in my book.

The SHORT list of things I've enjoyed this year:

Zadorov being big and physical - some of his hits have been fantastic. He's a leader in my book.
Kastelic -- give me more.
Pasta -- as always he's so friggin' talented
Geekie -- credit where credit is due, he's been a bright spot.
Lohrei -- kid will be a stud.

Pretty short list, but sure..... let's bitch about Zadorov's contract.

As an optimist I’ll add;

Lysell is showing he can play

We may have found a nice bargain in Middlestat (sp)

Minten looks good, Poitras didn't get hit in half this year and continues to put up points on the only actually good Bruins team right now

Peeke is a steady guy, good pick up from Columbus

 

[RoccoF14]

Zhadorov could be a bonafide All-Star with his skillset. He has all the tools to be a top-pairing, lock-down defenseman in this league. He is a better skater and has better edges and balance than Chara. He doesn't seem to have Chara's offensive ceiling or IQ, but he has a good release form from the point and a bomb of a clapper when he gets into it. In his puck extraction game, he appears to be on the lazy side.

I have watched him have a space advantage over forecheckers countless times. He could take two hard strides toward the puck and have a second before the pressure gets to him, but he chooses to attempt to use his length and girth instead of hustle and is then forced to decide without space, which no one at any level of hockey is as good at.

He could own this league if he would play with a bit more urgency in ALL situations. But he doesn't. More often than not, competition level is a DNA thing; some guys have it, and others don't.

He is still more than serviceable and adequate in his role, but he could be a 1A in the league if he did not rely on being bigger and stronger in every situation. I don't mind the penalty minutes for being bigger and stronger, but he could avoid so much of the contact that causes those PIMs if he would put a little booige in his butt when the opportunity shows itself.

If he was a legit 1A, he'd have been one by now. The guy is in his 12th season and has around 625 NHL games.

I'm happy with his contribution this year, but lets stop talking about him like he's some prospect. He is what he is.....A solid bottom 4 Dman on a good team.