The Canucks have announced that this former Sabre will be hitting the market.
Former Buffalo Sabres defenseman Nikita Zadorov has been discussed heavily over the last several weeks. After an impressive playoff run, Zadorov and the Vancouver Canucks were working hard on getting a new deal done. There was hope that the hulking defender would stay in Vancouver, but now that thought can be forgotten.
Canucks GM Patrik Allvin confirmed to Patrick Johnson of The Province and The Vancouver Sun that Zadorov will become a free agent on July 1.
With Zadorov officially hitting the market, he will be a scorching commodity in two days. The 6-foot-6 defenseman is precisely the big and mean player every NHL club would love to have on their roster. Thus, there will undoubtedly be a bidding war for his services.
Zadorov, 29, appeared in 75 games this season split between the Calgary Flames and Canucks, recording six goals, 20 points, 125 penalty minutes, and 177 hits. In addition, he also had an outstanding postseason, posting four goals, eight points, and a plus-3 rating in 13 games.
Nikita Zadorov & Evander KaneIt will be intriguing to see where the former Sabre ends up. Some clubs to watch include the Toronto Maple Leafs, New Jersey Devils, Dallas Stars, and Boston Bruins.