Former Colorado Avalanche defenseman Nikita Zadorov has had a fantastic postseason with the Vancouver Canucks. Besides providing plenty of physicality and steady defensive play, he has also been impactful offensively. In eight playoff games, the shutdown defenseman has four goals, seven points, and a plus-3 rating.
Nikita Zadorov
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Heading into Game 2 against the Edmonton Oilers on Friday night, Zadorov looked to accomplish a rare Canucks feat. As NHL Public Relations posted on their X account, Zadorov needed just one goal to become only the second Canucks defenseman to score at least four playoff goals in their first season with the club. Jeff Brown is the only Canucks defenseman to accomplish this, achieving it back in 1994.
Zadorov did just that against the Oilers in Game 2, as he perfectly sniped a wrist shot along the boards past Stuart Skinner.
Zadorov, 29, has been such a strong addition to the Canucks' roster, and he has stepped up his play big-time for them this postseason. The 2013 first-round pick is also a pending UFA, so he is on his way to landing a big raise this summer, whether that's with the Canucks or another club through free agency.
In five seasons with the Avalanche from 2015-16 to 2019-20, Zadorov had 18 goals, 59 points, 887 hits, and a plus-4 rating.
