Calgarypuck Forums - The Unofficial Calgary Flames Fan Community - View Single Post - [Trade] Flames acquire rights to Nikita Zadorov for 3rd acquired in Rittich trade

Calgary4LIfe · 08-01-2021, 08:44 PM

I think this is a really good fit for both Zadorov and Calgary.

I think Calgary has been trying to get bigger and stronger, and under Sutter specifically, a better defensive team. Zadorov is good defensively (for the most part). I think this will work out well for Calgary.

I think where Zadorov is concerned, working under Sutter should take him to the next level. He has the size and agility to become a premier defencemen in this league. In a way, he is one of those freaks of nature. I think Sutter will steady him.

I think working with Lucic and even Ritchie might help Zadorov. Looking over at his fight history, he sure loses a lot of fights. It is no wonder that he didn't fight Lucic in the video that has been posted. It is no wonder that he wouldn't fight Bennett in the playoffs either - I think Bennett would have tuned him. He looks like me in the 6th grade when I first put boxing gloves on and got my butt kicked by guys half my size - the second you get 'afraid' of getting hit, you start turning away, and that's when you really get beat up. Don't want to get hit in the face? Fight like Zack "Huggy Bear" Stortini (seriously). Clinch up and hug the guy. It is hard for you to hit him with any power, but it also becomes harder for him to hit you too. Don't look away - that's when you can really get hurt too. Lucic I am sure will teach him the finer points of fighting. The only fight that I saw him winning was against Lowry, but he lost against Benn, McQuaid and even Phaneuf. Maybe he has been getting better - I just wanted to take a sampling of his fights.

The Regehr comparison is a natural one. I agree that what sets Regehr apart from Zadorov is Regehr's very high IQ. With that being said, I don't think Zadorov suffers from a poor IQ - he's just not Regehr. The other difference that I can see is that Zadorov is way 'meaner'. Regehr was fairly gentle in his first few seasons, almost as if he didn't know his own size. I don't know if Sutter helped him discover that side of the game more, or perhaps it was just him taking a while to adjust.

Otherwise, there is a lot of comparisons here. Regehr wasn't much of a fighter either. They both have hard shots, and neither one of them used it well. They both are very physical and prioritize defence. They are also both big men who have really good agility for their size.

I have been clamouring for an offensive defencemen as I think this team is going to have an issue generating offence from the back-end. However, I do think that this is the next best thing - getting a 'monster' back there to add to the new identity. Zadorov at least fills a hole on this team, and makes this team better defensively and physically.

I think it is a nice add, and I also think that there is some untapped potential there. I think Sutter will help him, and I also think that we could start seeing a bit more offence (probably nothing dramatic, but an uptick). I'm a fan of this move, quite honestly.

08-01-2021, 08:44 PM	#516
Calgary4LIfe Franchise Player Join Date: Jun 2010 Exp:	I think this is a really good fit for both Zadorov and Calgary. I think Calgary has been trying to get bigger and stronger, and under Sutter specifically, a better defensive team. Zadorov is good defensively (for the most part). I think this will work out well for Calgary. I think where Zadorov is concerned, working under Sutter should take him to the next level. He has the size and agility to become a premier defencemen in this league. In a way, he is one of those freaks of nature. I think Sutter will steady him. I think working with Lucic and even Ritchie might help Zadorov. Looking over at his fight history, he sure loses a lot of fights. It is no wonder that he didn't fight Lucic in the video that has been posted. It is no wonder that he wouldn't fight Bennett in the playoffs either - I think Bennett would have tuned him. He looks like me in the 6th grade when I first put boxing gloves on and got my butt kicked by guys half my size - the second you get 'afraid' of getting hit, you start turning away, and that's when you really get beat up. Don't want to get hit in the face? Fight like Zack "Huggy Bear" Stortini (seriously). Clinch up and hug the guy. It is hard for you to hit him with any power, but it also becomes harder for him to hit you too. Don't look away - that's when you can really get hurt too. Lucic I am sure will teach him the finer points of fighting. The only fight that I saw him winning was against Lowry, but he lost against Benn, McQuaid and even Phaneuf. Maybe he has been getting better - I just wanted to take a sampling of his fights. The Regehr comparison is a natural one. I agree that what sets Regehr apart from Zadorov is Regehr's very high IQ. With that being said, I don't think Zadorov suffers from a poor IQ - he's just not Regehr. The other difference that I can see is that Zadorov is way 'meaner'. Regehr was fairly gentle in his first few seasons, almost as if he didn't know his own size. I don't know if Sutter helped him discover that side of the game more, or perhaps it was just him taking a while to adjust. Otherwise, there is a lot of comparisons here. Regehr wasn't much of a fighter either. They both have hard shots, and neither one of them used it well. They both are very physical and prioritize defence. They are also both big men who have really good agility for their size. I have been clamouring for an offensive defencemen as I think this team is going to have an issue generating offence from the back-end. However, I do think that this is the next best thing - getting a 'monster' back there to add to the new identity. Zadorov at least fills a hole on this team, and makes this team better defensively and physically. I think it is a nice add, and I also think that there is some untapped potential there. I think Sutter will help him, and I also think that we could start seeing a bit more offence (probably nothing dramatic, but an uptick). I'm a fan of this move, quite honestly.