Former Canuck Nikita Zadorov throws shot at front office: Conversations were disrespectful
In a recent episode of the What Chaos! podcast, former Canuck defenseman Nikita Zadorov opened up about his departure from Vancouver, revealing that he was eager to re-sign with the team. However, the numbers just didn't align, and Zadorov described the Canucks' offer as «a little disrespectful.»
While many Canucks fans were hopeful that the towering Russian blue-liner would return, it always felt like a long shot, especially with Vancouver prioritizing their cap space elsewhere, most notably on forward Jake DeBrusk.
Zadorov ultimately inked a six-year, $30 million deal with the Boston Bruins, a contract that seems to have been well beyond what the cap-strapped Canucks could offer. It's speculated Vancouver was only able to table a deal around $4 million per year-a figure that, considering Zadorov's strong season and playoff performance, likely felt undervalued to him. Coming off a career-high stock into free agency, it's no surprise the bruising defenseman saw the Canucks' offer as a bit of a slap in the face.
During the interview, Zadorov also reflected on his time visiting Boston, saying,
Both Zadorov and Lindholm ultimately followed through on that sentiment, both signing long-term deals with the Bruins, adding fuel to the speculation that their decision was influenced by the city's allure and the Bruins' bright future.
As much as Canucks fans will miss Zadorov's physical presence on the back end, it's clear he will be a great fit in Boston, and he will be missed by the fans in the pacific northwest.
