NHL Rumors: Canucks & Bruins Talking Trade?

The Vancouver Canucks have reportedly engaged the Boston Bruins in preliminary discussions about defenseman Nikita Zadorov, according to Noah Strang of Daily Hive. 

Strang cites CHEK’s Rick Dhaliwal, who revealed on the Halford & Brough Show that Canucks GM Patrik Allvin initiated contact with the Bruins regarding a potential trade. 

However, Dhaliwal characterized the talks as brief and emphasized they “weren’t major,” suggesting no significant traction at this stage.

Nikita Zadorov was a monster on the back end for the Canucks 💪

(🎥: Sportsnet/NHL) pic.twitter.com/4V671gNlh5

— CanucksArmy (@CanucksArmy) June 17, 2024

Zadorov, 29, signed a six-year, $30 million deal with Boston in July, complete with a full no-movement clause for the current season. 

He previously played a key role for Vancouver during last season’s playoff run after being acquired from Calgary, earning fan appreciation for his physicality and leadership. 

Despite this, the Canucks opted not to match his offseason contract demands, allowing him to join the Bruins. 

With Filip Hronek now sidelined, Vancouver’s defensive depth has taken a hit, reigniting their interest in Zadorov, whose size, skating ability, and familiarity with the team could make him a valuable addition.

Nikita Zadorov pokes Evgeni Malkin from the bench with his stick and Geno swings his stick back at the Bruins bench pic.twitter.com/LnRadtpTgM

— Nasty Knuckles (@NastyKnuckles) November 30, 2024

Financial constraints remain a big hurdle for the Canucks, who would likely need to offload salary, explore LTIR options, or seek retention from the Bruins to make a deal feasible. 

Zadorov has had a slow start in Boston with just seven points in 26 games, but his presence and postseason contributions make him an intriguing target for Vancouver. 

Dhaliwal also referenced Elliotte Friedman’s earlier comments about a potential reunion, adding, “When Elliotte says stuff, you have to read between the lines,” leaving the door open for further developments.

Photo Credit: Brian Fluharty-Imagn Images