The frontrunners to land Nikita Zadorov on free agency have been identified

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Cooper Godin
June 30, 2024 (6:49 PM)

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With Vancouver Canucks defenceman Nikita Zadorov officially set to hit the free agent market on Monday at 12 pm ET, there may be quite a bit of interest in him, including from a Canadian team.

Zadorov's performance in the Stanley Cup Playoffs is what teams are looking for this summer - a big, rugged defenceman who can play in any situation and over 18 minutes a night, and will drive up his price tomorrow on the open market.

According to Luke Fox of Sportsnet, the Toronto Maple Leafs could be a potential landing spot for Nikita Zadorov as a free agent.

"Treliving tried trading for a Tanev-Zadorov package in the fall, when the six-foot-six Russian ended up in Vancouver.

Again, the GM knows the player. Loves the player.

Zadorov's superb performance in the playoffs (four goals, eight points in 13 games) only ratcheted up his stock ahead of his best chance to get paid.

The Canucks would like to keep him. Is he not a Rick Tocchet type player? But Zadorov's asking price � $5 million times six years � is steep.

We like the player. We'd like him a lot more if that price drops." Luke Fox said.

Zadorov, a native of Moscow, Russia, was one of the first big trades of the 2023-24 campaign, being dealt from Calgary to Vancouver in late-November. The 29-year-old had 20 points (six goals, 14 assists), 125 penalty minutes and had an even-rating in 75 regular season games. He took his game to the next level in the playoffs and at times, was one of the Canucks' best defencemen, putting up eight points in 13 games.

The 29-year-old Zadorov may not be the only former Vancouver Canucks defenceman that the Toronto Maple Leafs will be targeting on Monday. TSN's Darren Dreger is reporting that even after trading for Chris Tanev's rights, 2024 Stanley Cup champion Oliver Ekman-Larsson is a target for the Maple Leafs.

"Toronto is positioned to strengthen their blueline. Some creative negotiating is required, but Zadorov and OEL remain prime targets in addition to Tanev." Dreger said.

We'll have to wait and see what tomorrow brings, but it looks like a pair of former Canucks defenceman could be back in Canada tomorrow and in one of the biggest markets in the entire National Hockey League.

Source: Luke Fox/Sportsnet
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