The first season of Boston Bruins defenseman Nikita Zadorov’s six-year, $30 million contract hasn’t gone as planned. Prior to the Bruins defeating the Calgary Flames 4-3 in overtime, head coach Jim Montgomery recognized Zadorov’s difficulties and pointed out that the 6’6″ blue-liner was inconsistent.
Montgomery stated, “I don’t see him pressing,” according to the Boston Globe. “At times, he looks like he’s understanding exactly what we’re trying to accomplish, and at times he looks like he’s not.” Zadorov has a plus-2 plus/minus rating and four assists after 15 games, but his uneven play and excessive penalty minutes have sparked concerns.
Despite playing just over 284 minutes for the Bruins, Zadorov has already accrued the most penalty minutes of any Boston player with 27. After Boston’s recent 4–0 loss to Toronto, Zadorov himself offered his thoughts, acknowledging that he is still getting used to his new club after leaving Vancouver to sign with the Bruins.
Prior to Thursday’s game, Zadorov stated, “I think past five games I was really dialed into it and it’s been good, been easy so far.” “Obviously, we’re in the little slump right now.”Every bounce returns to us; the puck isn’t going in.
I believe the method is ideal for us when the unit of five functions well, but we’re trying to maintain a good attitude and all the men attempt to cooperate.” Zadorov recorded 18:14 TOI against the Flames, another team he played with in the past, however he received one trip (and two minutes) to the penalty box and had a negative minus-1 plus/minus. The victory put the Bruins in fourth place in the Atlantic Division going into play on Friday, with a 7-7-1 record and 15 points from their first 15 games of the season.
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