Nikita Zadorov discloses his feelings about Vancouver Canucks' failed contract negotations

Nikita Zadorov is known for speaking his mind, and his comments about leaving the Vancouver Canucks showed that. Now with the Boston Bruins, Zadorov discussed on the What Chaos! podcast how his talks with the Canucks broke down.

Although he had initially wanted to stay in Vancouver, things didn’t go as planned.

“Right now, it’s probably a little bit disrespectful to talk about your exes, We wanted to stay at the start. … We tried to sort it out but there’s a point in negotiations when you check boxes and then a couple things didn’t go the way we wanted to, and (it) kind of felt a little bit disrespectful, too,” Zadorov said.

Zadorov was traded to Vancouver from the Calgary Flames early in the 2023-24 season.

He made an immediate impact on the team, and Canucks fans quickly embraced him after his strong playoff performance. He recorded eight points in 13 playoff games, helping the team push the Edmonton Oilers to seven games in the second round.

Looking back, Zadorov had high praise for coach Rick Tocchet.

“Tocchet has a great system and is a great teacher who helps young players develop their skills. His analysis is excellent, and he understands how to prepare his players for each game," Zadorov said.

Despite his positive experience, contract talks stalled for Nikita Zadorov. He explained that negotiations were postponed before the playoffs, and they couldn't reach an agreement afterward.

Eventually, Zadorov signed a six-year contract with the Bruins. The Canucks will face Zadorov and the Bruins on Nov. 26, with his return to Rogers Arena on Dec. 14.

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Brad Marchand praises Nikita Zadorov as key addition to Boston's defense

Brad Marchand praised Nikita Zadorov, calling him a "predator" and "animal." Zadorov, at 6-foot-6 and 250 pounds, brings toughness to Boston's defense.

“I absolutely love him,” Marchand said (via bostonherald). “I’ve played against him and I hated it. I love having him with our group. He’s great off the ice and on the bench and in the room,

"He’s always yapping, keeping things light, keeping the guys on their toes. Incredible addition to the group. I think he’s fit in great.”

Nikita Zadorov is known for his hard hits and plans to contribute more than just size. Zadorov aims to create his own identity in Boston, avoiding comparisons with Zdeno Chara.

He noted that his hitting has decreased due to improved maturity and different stat tracking in arenas, but his teammates are excited about his presence.