On today’s episode of Canucks Conversation, David Quadrelli and Harman Dayal addressed the recent thought from Sportsnet insider Elliotte Friedman in his 32 Thoughts column about the possibility of Nikita Zadorov returning to Vancouver via trade from the Boston Bruins.
Here’s what Friedman wrote:
“Weird idea that may only make sense to me: Nikita Zadorov back to Vancouver. No idea if even possible, or if anyone would want it, but he was a good fit and the Canucks miss him.”
Both Quads and Harm were unconvinced by the idea, stating it lacks practicality for either side.
“This can’t make sense,” Quads remarked. “If it makes sense for the Canucks, it definitely doesn’t make sense for the Bruins, and vice versa. That’s the easiest way to look at this situation.”
“It’s a non-starter,” Harm agreed. “Even in a scenario where the Bruins retained significant salary—which, by the way, they’re not going to do—but even if they were willing, how much money are you going to continue piling into fringe number-four defencemen?”
Zadorov, affectionately nicknamed ‘Big Z’, became a fan favourite in Vancouver after being acquired from the Flames midway through last season. His physical playstyle and unexpected offensive contributions shone during the playoffs, where he tallied four goals and eight points in 13 games against Nashville and Edmonton.
Despite Vancouver’s interest in keeping him, reportedly offering a four-year contract at $4.6 million AAV, the 6”6 Russian defender opted for a six-year deal worth $5 million annually with the Boston Bruins. While his departure was disappointing for fans, the Canucks’ front office was cautious about overcommitting to a player with limited long-term upside and recency bias, as Zadorov was coming off a phenomenal playoff run.
The guys explored the feasibility of a potential trade, but the obstacles quickly became apparent.
“How could this work for the Canucks?” Quads asked. “First of all, you’re not going to want to give up significant assets for a guy you gave up assets for last year, only to let him walk because you didn’t want to match a lower contract than what he’s on now. The Bruins would need to take back bad money—what do they have on the books? Tyler Myers and Vinnie Desharnais? Myers has three years left at $3 million with a full no-move clause. How does that work?”
Harm added, “Also, no chance I want to touch [Zadorov’s] contract at five million, and I was very clear about that even in the lead-up to free agency. Just because he had a great couple of rounds in the playoffs doesn’t mean he’s suddenly a bona fide top-four defenceman.”
They speculated about a hypothetical package but dismissed its viability.
“For our purposes, let’s say you’re trying to create $5 million in space. Nils Höglander and Vinny Desharnais are your package to Boston, but then what? Zadorov comes back, and you’ve weakened your forward group,” Quads explained.
“They’d need a sweetener,” Harm agreed. “Höglander has legit trade value. But even if Zadorov arrived, what’s the fit? He’s not fixing your second pair. Sure, Zadorov-Myers would probably be better than Soucy-Myers, but you’re not winning a Stanley Cup with those guys as your second pair. That second pair would still be tasked with defending against top lines. Do you trust Zadorov to defend Connor McDavid head-to-head for an entire playoff series? We’re past this—it’s not happening.”
Ultimately, the guys dismissed the idea as implausible. As Friedman himself noted, “no idea if this is even possible,” the obstacles seem insurmountable. While Zadorov was a strong fit during his brief stint in Vancouver, there are too many logistical and financial challenges to make his return feasible.
You can watch the full segment below.
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