2024 NHL free agents: Bruins, Nikita Zadorov agree to six-year contract originally appeared in NBC Sports Boston
The Boston Bruins added a top-four defenseman to their blue line on Day 1 of NHL free agency by agreeing to a six-year, $30 million contract with Nikita Zadorov, according to multiple reports.
The contract has a salary cap of US$5 million, by Darren Dreger of TSN. The B’s also agreed to a seven-year, $54.25 million deal. with free agent center Elias Lindholm on Monday.
A left shooting defenseman was one of the Bruins’ needs entering free agency, and they addressed that with the addition of Zadorov. The 28-year-old blueliner scored 20 points (six goals, 14 assists) in 75 games between the Calgary Flames and Vancouver Canucks last season. The Canucks acquired him from the Flames before the trade deadline in March.
The Russian defenseman was one of Vancouver’s best players during the two-round 2024 playoff run. He scored eight points (four goals, four assists) and played strong defense in 13 postseason games for the Canucks.
Zadorov won’t put up impressive offensive stats. What he will always bring to the ice is toughness, defense and penalty killing. He is a physically imposing player at 6-foot-2 and 248 pounds. He throws his weight into the corners and in front of the net.
In fact, he will give the Bruins many of the same skills and attributes that Derek Forbort did. But Zadorov is three years younger than Forbort and has more offensive advantages. He’s also tougher than Forbort, who has missed many games due to injuries over the past two years.
The Bruins now have Zadorov, Hampus Lindholm, Mason Lohrei and Parker Wotherspoon on the left side of the blue line.
