Nikita Zadorov Considered Reunion With Former Team

He was in demand in this year's Free Agent Frenzy, and it was the Boston Bruins that eventually won the services of hulking defenseman Nikita Zadorov with a massive 6-year, $5 million AAV deal. 

But before he signed that monstrous contract, Zadorov considered an offer to return to the team he'd spent the most time with in the NHL, the Colorado Avalanche.

Nice ovation for Nikita Zadorov here inside Ball Arena during a first period stoppage.
Zadorov played 5 seasons with the Avalanche. pic.twitter.com/bCaKxQTB0c

— Brendan Parker (@BParkerTV) March 6, 2022

According to a recent interview the big Russian conducted with rg.org, before signing with the Bruins, he considered offers from other teams, including not only the incumbent Vancouver Canucks, but also the Avalanche.

Zadorov spent five years in Colorado, a time when he really established himself as a full-timer in the NHL. He averaged 18:16 of ice time per night over that half-decade in Denver, handing out 887 hits in 289 games, with 324 blocked shots and 328 penalty minutes. He recorded a plus/minus rating over that time of +4. 

Since then, his travels took him to the Chicago Blackhawks, Calgary Flames, and the Canucks for this past year's stretch run and playoff drive. 

The Avs' most notable free agent addition on the blueline this summer (so far) wound up being Erik Brannstrom. A reasonable depth add, but the Swede gives up eight inches in height and 65 pounds in weight (and $4.1M in salary) to Zadorov. 

The one comment from the aforementioned article, however, that could leave a bad taste for some Avs fans, is that "Zadorov chose Boston for its winning potential.” Interesting, because there's a Stanley Cup banner hanging in Ball Arena that would argue that he might not have made the right choice.