Playing for a winner is a common theme among players in the NHL who are keen to leave their mark in the league. Nikita Zadorov joins those players as he goes on to sign a deal with the Boston Bruins that would see him stay for a total of six years for $30 million en route to the 2024-25 season.

At the age of 29, Nikita Zadorov still has a lot to offer in his game with the hopes of winning big in the NHL at this point in his career. In return, the Bruins do get a promising boost on their defensive line by adding the former Vancouver Canucks star into their mix with the hopes of building on a new generation of playoff contenders in the squad.

It can be remembered that the Bruins fell short of the Eastern Conference Finals in the previous Stanley Cup Playoffs after losing to the Florida Panthers in six games. The team just lost a lot of its top stars prior to that, and this offseason is turning out to be a promising upgrade phase for the team as they continue to come up with impressive signings.

Zadorov’s Underrated Impact

Zadorov had a total of 20 points (six goals, 14 assists) in 75 games between the Calgary Flames and Vancouver Canucks last season. He would even go on to tally eight points (four goals, four assists) in 13 Stanley Cup Playoff games with Vancouver, which was eliminated by the Edmonton Oilers in seven games in the second round. Zadorov comes in as a massive impact player for the Bruins, who are in need of top-notch two-way performers in the squad.

Selected by the Buffalo Sabres back in 2013 with the no. 16 pick, Zadorov has then tallied a total of 46 points (47 goals, 99 assists) in 642 regular-season games with the Sabres, Colorado Avalanche, Chicago Blackhawks, Flames, and Canucks, and 19 points (eight goals, 11 assists) in 58 playoff games. The defenseman expects to play a big role in the coming season with the Bruins with the hopes of being a playoff contender.

“I want to have my best chance to win a championship,” Zadorov said. “I’m really invested in what I do, and I’m putting all my heart into everything, and right now I’m here for six years and I want to put my heart into being a Bruin and to try to win a Stanley Cup in here.”

Fitting in With Boston

Boston already had high praise for Zadorov as soon as he signed into squad. General Manager Don Sweeney was pleased with the massive impact that the defenseman can offer to the team at this point in time, and it cannot be denied that we are all expecting to see Zadorov fit in well with the Bruins’ roster at this point in time.

“The presence that ‘Z’ brings is important to us,” Sweeney said. “Playing a lot of top-four minutes in the playoffs against top guys comes with a bit of swagger. He has certainly seen his game grow and probably get a little more defined in what he's capable of doing.”

Bruins captain Brad Marchand, forward David Pastrnak and defenseman Charlie McAvoy all reached out to him as soon as he signed with the team. He has even worked with Boston coach Jim Montgomery in the past with the Colorado Avalanche, but perhaps what stands out is Zadorov’s solid chemistry with star center Elias Lindholm, as the two played together with the Flames and Canucks during the past three seasons.