[Trade] Flames acquire rights to Nikita Zadorov for 3rd acquired in Rittich trade

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by Jiri Hrdina

Why in my head do I think this guy is a bit of a dick?

Because he is - he took liberties against the Flames until Lucic said to stop.

[Jeff Lebowski]

Marshawn Lynch at the expansion draft said something to effect: hockey is a fast physical game, get some fast physical players.

He wasn't wrong.

Gio could rip his wrister from the point, walking the line and getting through or walking in and going short side above the pad or high glove

[Bingo]

Originally Posted by Enoch Root

You really want to double down on that view? Bold.

Yeah with Tanev his first year was so good that his contract has already moved out of the disaster zone.

Kind of like the Giordano math ... 6 years at 34 was scary but he went elite, elite, elite, above average, above average, expansion draft.

Tanev just had an elite season, he can fall a fair bit for years two and three and still be money.

[Goriders]

I hope they re-sign Stone on a low $ contract as well. We’d have a pretty tough set of defensemen if they do. Our D could use some more grit.

[ComixZone]

Originally Posted by Bingo

Yeah with Tanev his first year was so good that his contract has already moved out of the disaster zone.

Kind of like the Giordano math ... 6 years at 34 was scary but he went elite, elite, elite, above average, above average, expansion draft.

Tanev just had an elite season, he can fall a fair bit for years two and three and still be money.

Yeah, but it's also just sad to look at from an overall team perspective though.

If Tanev drops off, almost at all, our defensive group is in absolute shambles. This is no fault on Tanev. We know that guy is going to give it everything he has.

[bax]

Originally Posted by TheScorpion

Yeah. Tanev had the best season of any defensive defenseman in the entire NHL last year and he's still an aging player with an extensive injury history who looked to be on a steep decline before signing in Calgary.

Isn’t it possible that players profile differently depending on the team/pairing/situation they are playing in?

I think it’s a bit early to write this one off. I trust the Flames have some solid private data. Seemed to work out with Tanev.

[bigrangy]

Does this open up a Valimaki/Hanifin deal. I know Zadorov isn’t the most ideal top 4 guy but I am sure he was acquired to play big minutes.

Makes vali/hanifin more palatable to put in the Eichel deal.

[Bingo]

Originally Posted by ComixZone

This move feels like Treliving's 7 years have now come full circle back to Burke's train of thought.

Started by drafting Hunter and acquiring Bollig, and here we are today acquiring Zadarov.

Our defence is significantly worse than it was last season (when we weren't a playoff team).

Well the expansion draft pretty much made that a certainty.

[AustinL_NHL]

Yea, in regards to Tanev, he was sooo good last season that he could be well below average for the next 3 years and he would still have outperformed his contract, or at the very least lived up to it.

[dammage79]

Originally Posted by bigrangy

Does this open up a Valimaki/Hanifin deal. I know Zadorov isn’t the most ideal top 4 guy but I am sure he was acquired to play big minutes.

Makes vali/hanifin more palatable to put in the Eichel deal.

Maybe Valimaki. But Hanifin is going nowhere.

[DJones]

Originally Posted by TheScorpion

Yeah. Tanev had the best season of any defensive defenseman in the entire NHL last year and he's still an aging player with an extensive injury history who looked to be on a steep decline before signing in Calgary.

What an odd thing to be pessimistic about. He makes 4.5M, he was probably worth 7 last year.

[btimbit]

Well, I sure can't complain about our D being too soft anymore

[Monahammer]

Scorp; advanced stats show this guy is good defensively. +/- shows he's been a plus player for the last 4 seasons, even on a crap Chicago squad. What gives with your "he's bad defensively" argument? Is it just ignorant of facts or do you have something to show us here?

[cannon7]

I think Flames have Zadorov slotted on the third pairing. Which is where he was on the non-playoff Blackhawks. But we'll see what he gets signed for...

[TheScorpion]

Originally Posted by Monahammer

Scorp; advanced stats show this guy is good defensively. +/- shows he's been a plus player for the last 4 seasons, even on a crap Chicago squad. What gives with your "he's bad defensively" argument? Is it just ignorant of facts or do you have something to show us here?

My argument isn't that he's bad defensively. He's a black hole offensively and his inability to drive play towards the opposition net drastically outweighs any value he provides in his own end. In 2021 NHL, you have to be able to do both.

If the Flames are committing more than half of their Giordano cap space to this guy... massive oof. Especially if it's over a long term. The Flames' priority this summer had to be scoring and, for the third straight offseason, they're giving themselves barely any room to add up front.

[SportsJunky]

Originally Posted by Monahammer

Lol I think Zad-Andersson would be a total ####### pair to play against. He would bring out the mean qualities in Andy.

I do like this pairing. Couple of guys that like to stir things up.

[ComixZone]

Originally Posted by Monahammer

Scorp; advanced stats show this guy is good defensively. +/- shows he's been a plus player for the last 4 seasons, even on a crap Chicago squad. What gives with your "he's bad defensively" argument? Is it just ignorant of facts or do you have something to show us here?

He's good at suppressing shots, but he's horrid at driving play and terrible at helping the team outscore the opposition when he's on the ice.

[ricardodw]

Does this tone down the Keith is the worst deal in history meme?


Keith was obviously better than Zaradov last season. The Hawks protected Connor Murphy, Riley Stillman, Caleb Jones ahead of Zaradov.

Seattle passed on Zaradov and picked John Quenneville who has cleared waivers more than once

Seattle goofed because they could have gotten a 3rd from the Flames for that expansion pick. They figured they could use the cap space better.

Zaradov had to be qualified at 3.2 M

On the positive side it is great having a physical presence (Tkachuk support) on the ice for 16-18 minutes a game

He does more hitting than the Flames are used to. Good for the folks that like the Flames to hard to paly against BUT will likely bring down the CF% for the "hits are a sign that you don't have the puck" crowd.

Another positive point.., Shoots L but plays LD/RD

He needs Lucic to hang around and give him fighting lessons. Last year he got caved in by both Jamie Benn and Luke Schenn who both chased him down on a face off and the best part of Zardovs fight was bruising their Knuckles.

Giving Sutter the raw materials to make a team.

[DeluxeMoustache]

Originally Posted by DJones

What an odd thing to be pessimistic about. He makes 4.5M, he was probably worth 7 last year.

Wacky valuation

The guy got 12 points which pro rates to 17 over 82 games

That’s not what you pay 7 million for

[Wastedyouth]

Zadorov is bunk.

Oh well. This was bound to happen.