Boston Bruins’ defenseman Nikita Zadorov is facing a challenging debut season under his six-year, $30 million contract. Head Coach Jim Montgomery recently addressed Zadorov’s inconsistent performance before the Bruins’ overtime win over the Calgary Flames, 4-3, highlighting moments of progress mixed with lapses from the 6’6″ blue-liner.
“I don’t see him pressing,” Montgomery told the Boston Globe. “At times, he seems to grasp our game plan fully; other times, he’s off-track.”
Through 15 games, Zadorov has recorded four assists and a plus-2 rating, but his play has been marred by penalties—27 minutes total, the most on the team—leaving fans and coaches questioning his form. Zadorov, who joined the Bruins from Vancouver, admits he’s still adjusting to Boston’s system.
Reflecting on his recent stretch, Zadorov commented, “The last five games, I felt more in sync, though we’re in a bit of a slump now… when our unit of five clicks, this system is a great fit.”
During Thursday’s matchup against his former team, the Flames, Zadorov logged over 18 minutes but finished with a minus-1 and another penalty. The victory pushed Boston to 7-7-1, placing them fourth in the Atlantic Division with 15 points through 15 games.
