The Bruins have signed Nikita Zadorov to a six-year, $30 million deal, per league sources.
Zadorov, 29, adds much-needed meanness to the left side of the defense behind Hampus Lindholm. He is 6-foot-6 and 248 pounds. Zadorov is a physical defender who, like fellow new Bruin Elias Lindholm, split time with the Flames and Vancouver Canucks last season. In 2022-23, while playing for the Flames, Zadorov injured Nick Foligno’s knee with a clean but consequential open-ice hit. Foligno missed the rest of the regular season because of the injury.
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Zadorov scored five goals and nine assists in 54 games for the Canucks while averaging 17:04 of ice time per outing. He averaged 1:33 of short-handed ice time per game.
By adding Zadorov, the Bruins can roll Mason Lohrei on the No. 3 pair with Andrew Peeke. This will let the talented Lohrei express his offense while working on his defensive details.
(Photo: Derek Cain / Getty Images)