Nikita Zadorov
Current Team: Vancouver Canucks
It sounds like the defenseman market is going to be insane this season. There will be very few bargains, and Nikita Zadorov might be at the top of the list of “non-bargains.” Zadorov is pretty clearly going to get a bag this offseason, which would surprise a lot of people going into last year. However, he really found his calling and was about as good at being this behemoth hitter with offensive upside as anyone.
Zadorov built his value and got traded to the Vancouver Canucks. There, he was still very good. That’s because he’s mobile, especially for his size. That sounds like it’s exactly what Tom Fitzgerald has been prioritizing on the blue line. He wants players who can play well on both sides and add size to the lineup.
However, the real worry here is where the contract price may go. They can’t go past $6 million per season for a guy who is already 29. Zadorov might get a six or seven-year deal. The Devils can’t go that high. Would they go to five years? That seems to be the equator on this deal.
It’s a scary deal, but it might be the right deal. The worst-case scenario is what the Pittsburgh Penguins are now dealing with on the Ryan Graves trade, but with a higher average annual value. This is still worth the conversation and possibly worth the signing.