"Nobody's Gonna Push Us Around, Especially On Home Ice": Nikita Zadorov Discusses Playing With Different Partners And The Canucks Improved Physical Play
Zadorov has played 23 games with the Canucks since being acquired from the Flames.
Photo by Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports - "Nobody's Gonna Push Us Around, Especially On Home Ice": Nikita Zadorov Discusses Playing With Different Partners And The Canucks Improved Physical PlayAt the end of November, the Vancouver Canucks took a big swing by acquiring defenceman Nikita Zadorov from the Calgary Flames for two draft picks. Listed at 6'6", 248 pounds, the left-shot defender was brought in to add some physicality while also improving the overall depth of the Canucks blueline. 23 games in, this trade is already looking like a steal, as Vancouver is 16-3-4 with him in the lineup.
One of the main concerns for the Canucks over the last few has been team toughness and physicality. As mentioned, this is one of the reasons Vancouver went out and acquired Zadorov. As he explains, he is working to change the narrative and make it known around the league that the Canucks are a team that is done being pushed around.
"I think I'm the best on my game when I'm staying physically engaged in the game," said Zadorov. "I'm definitely a big game player, so the Toronto game kind of circled on the calendar before I was playing. It's exciting. I mean, that's why you play hockey together. To just get so emotional before those games, I think it's a cool part of it I think it's part of our game. It's our job, you know, me and Mysie, two big guys. We think this team has been pushed around before in the past, and now we are trying to change that mentality in here. Nobody's gonna push us around, especially on home ice. We're gonna play hard, and everybody's gonna hate playing against us. I think that's our mentality going into the games, for sure."
Another reason Vancouver brought in Zadorov is his ability to play on both sides of the ice. When fully healthy, the Canucks often dress four left-shot defenders, meaning one must move over to the right side. In most cases, this is Ian Cole, as he has the most experience playing on his off side. While some adjustments need to be made when playing beside another left-shot defenceman, he has worked on it throughout his career and is ready for whenever his partner is playing their off-side.
"There's a difference where you put your passes. "Rims, dings and all that stuff, so for sure, it affects. I think it's pretty hard to play your off-side as a D-man. I think there's some pluses and minuses. I experienced it myself. I think Ian's (Cole) been really good with it, but I mean, yeah, you have to adjust on the fly."
As mentioned, Zadorov has played on the right side in the past, but he is at his best when playing on his strong side. Overall, he finds being on the left, especially when trying to break out of his own zone, is where he is most comfortable on the ice. As he explains, there are times when he doesn't mind shifting to right as it provides some advantages in the offensive zone.
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"On the left side, you're more open to the middle, so on the regroups in your own zone, I think it's easier to get a pass away right away, instead of on the right side, you're closer. You're pretty much half of the game on your backhand, so you're gonna make those backhand passes, and that's more risky. I think it's just the pivoting. Every person can get used to the side for sure, but when you play your left side your whole life, and then you get switched to the right, it's timing, it's pivoting, it's the gap controls, all that stuff comes in mind for sure. I think in the O-zone, I like playing on the right side. I think that's the best zone to do that because you can hit your one-timer as you are open for one-timer passes all the time. On the rims, it's easier to bring it to the middle on the right side. So I think there are definitely some pluses and minuses into it."
As for the rotation of partners, that is another adjustment he continues to work on this season. While he has spent the majority of his time in Vancouver beside Tyler Myers, the Canucks coaching staff isn't afraid to mix up pairing depending on game flow and performance. As Zadorov explains, he has learned to adjust his game based on his partner in order to make the pairing as efficient as possible.
"I think when you get on the ice with Quinn (Hughes) or Fil (Filip Hronek) up there, you're trying to give them the puck a little more because they're more offensive and know what to do with that better than me. I know my roles be physical, move the pick, quick gaps and kill the play. When I play with Mysie (Tyler Myers), we kind of find a combination between that because we also want to create some offence, and we have some offensive upside in our games for sure. Coler (Ian Cole) as well. I think most of it's when you go with Hughes; that's when you kind of adjust yourself because he knows what to do. You just give him the puck and then watch it and enjoy it."
While it is still early, it is clear that Zadorov has made a positive impact on Vancouver's lineup. He is willing to do whatever the team needs and has shown great chemistry with both Myers and Cole, who he played beside before his time with the Canucks. Whether it is throwing massive hits or something as simple as clearing the front of his own net, he has helped Vancouver become a more challenging team to play against, which will be beneficial come playoff time.
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