The Flames traded the Zadorov to the Vancouver Canuck weeks after the defenseman requested a trade out of Calgary.
The Flames traded the Zadorov to the Vancouver Canuck weeks after the defenseman requested a trade out of Calgary.
The Toronto Maple Leafs are very depleted on defense and it's no secret that they've been looking to improve at the position. But you can scratch Nikita Zadorov's name off the wish list.
The 6-foot-6 heavyweight was traded by the Calgary Flames to the Vancouver Canucks on Thursday in exchange for a third-round pick in the 2026 NHL Draft and a fifth-round pick in the 2024 NHL Draft.
According to ESPN's Kevin Weekes, the Maple Leafs were one of several teams trying to land Zadorov and they are still in the running to acquire defenseman Chris Tanev from the Flames. Weekes says their attempt to land both defensemen fell through due to a lack of salary cap space and Toronto's need for Calgary to retain salary as part of the deal.
On Wednesday, the Canucks traded forward Anthony Beauvillier to the Chicago Blackhawks in exchange for a conditional 2024 fifth-round draft pick and cleared the forward's $4.15 million cap charge to make room for Zadorov's $3.75 million cap hit.
Zadorov and his agent, Dan Milstein, made headlines when the Flames were in town to play against the Maple Leafs on Nov. 10. Zadorov levied a big hit on forward Tyler Bertuzzi. Moments later, Milstein posted on social media that Leafs fans should get their tickets for the Zadorov train.
After the post came word that the Russian defenseman had requested a trade out of Calgary.
The Maple Leafs have been interested in trying to remake their defense since Brad Treliving became the general manager on May 31. Earlier this week, Treliving admitted that he was looking to improve the position that has been decimated by injuries to John Klingberg (hip), Timothy Liljegren (ankle) and Mark Giordano (finger).
“I think that’s your job all the time (to look through the trade market), because you’re trying to help your team now. The idea that you’re always just going to trade yourself out of issues isn’t realistic," Treliving said.
The Maple Leafs have a little over $2.3 million in salary cap space while carrying the maximum 23 players on the active roster. They can increase that number by sending a few players down to try and make more cap space to accommodate Tanev's $4.5 million cap hit.
Toronto still doesn't have any clarity on Klingberg's immediate future. While currently on long-term injured reserve, the player could return at some point in the regular season if he elects to not pursue a surgical solution to his nagging hip issues. Treliving said on Monday they hoped to have clarity on the defenseman's options by the end of the week.
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