NHL Rumors: Insider shares latest on Vancouver Canucks' negotiations with Nikita Zadorov's agent

Vancouver Canucks defenseman Nikita Zadorov has been a topic of interest as his contract negotiations with the team remain at an impasse. According to Donnie & Dhali, the Canucks and Zadorov's agent, Dan Milstein, are currently not in active discussions. This situation follows an earlier round of talks before the playoffs, which ended with Milstein rejecting the Canucks' offer.

"The #Canucks and agent Dan Milstein are not talking right now but as I have said for a while – the #Canucks know Milstein’s ask. Before the playoffs the 2 sides talked and it went nowhere with Milstein rejecting the Canucks offer," Donnie & Dhali wrote on X.

In his exit interview on May 23, 2024, Zadorov addressed his contractual status with a touch of humor, targeting media speculation from Edmonton.

"Do you think I've priced myself out. I don't know where you get those numbers. From the trees? You got to stop listening to Edmonton reporters who are negotiating a contract. That is only between my agent and Patrik. Hopefully, we can work something out," Zadorov joked.

Reflecting on his experience in Vancouver, Zadorov praised the local fans.

"Hockey in Canada is different. I can't compare it to Calgary, but I feel like the Vancouver fanbase is way bigger. Calgary isn't even the number one team in Alberta, so it's kind of like obvious there are more Edmonton fans because they have a bigger history," Zadorov added.

As a pending unrestricted free agent, Zadorov could potentially hit the open market if an agreement is not reached with the Vancouver Canucks. As of now, the future remains uncertain.

Vancouver Canucks Facing Tough Decisions with Ilya Mikheyev

The Vancouver Canucks face tough decisions regarding Ilya Mikheyev, who struggled in the latter part of the season. With a $4.75 million cap hit for two more years, trading him is unlikely due to his performance and contractual limitations.

Buying out his contract isn't feasible due to long-term cap implications, especially with other buyouts already in place. Mikheyev's modified no-trade clause further complicates potential trades.

Vancouver may retain him for the upcoming season, but they must optimize his role, perhaps utilizing him on the fourth line and penalty kill.