Nikita Zadorov should quickly become a fan favorite once the Bruins return to the ice.
One of the Boston Bruins' biggest moves from the first day of free agency was signing defenseman Nikita Zadorov to a six-year, $30 million contract. With the Bruins losing Matt Grzelcyk and Derek Forbort in free agency, they needed to add to the left side of their defense. They did so in a big way by adding Zadorov.
Zadorov should be a strong addition to the Bruins' top four, as he can handle big minutes and works well as a shutdown defender. While Zadorov may not be as flashy as an addition as Elias Lindholm, he should instantly become a fan favorite once the Bruins hit the ice.
It is no secret that the Bruins have needed a big, mean defenseman, and Zadorov now gives them that. The 6-foot-6 defender plays an incredibly heavy game and matches the style of a classic Bruin. His 125 penalty minutes and 177 hits in 75 games this past season effectively display it.
While Zadorov's snarl and toughness will make him a popular player in Boston, he is also impactful in other areas. While he is more of a defense-first kind of player who kills penalties, he also chips in offensively. During the 2023-24 regular season, he had six goals and 20 points. He flexed his offensive muscles even further in the playoffs, recording four goals, eight points, and a plus-3 rating.
Ultimately, Zadorov has all the makings of being a significant addition to the Bruins' roster. It will be fun to see how much of an impact he makes in 2024-25 and onward, sporting the Spoked B from here.
