Should The Bruins Be In On Nikita Zadorov?

Should the Boston Bruins enter the NHL trade sweepstakes for Calgary Flames defenseman Nikita Zadorov?

During the Bruins’ game against the Canadiens in Montreal on Saturday night, there was some chatter that Bruins defenseman Don Sweeney could look into a potential trade fit between the Bruins and Flames for Zadorov.

“I look at the Bruins right now and the way they’re built – they’re big, hard on the forecheck and playing playoff style – I’m thinking Sweeney’s in on Zadorov,” an NHL source opined to Boston Hockey Now on Saturday night. “I know for a fact Sweeney’s looked into him before. They’ve been listening on [Matt] Grzelcyk. That could be a great 1-for-1 one for guys headed for free agency?”

A Zadorov for Matt Grzelcyk trade straight up would be the ultimate cap-compliant hockey trade. A left-shot for left-shot trade with Grzelcyk in the final season of a four-year contract that carries a $3.6 million cap hit and Zadorov in the final season of a two-year contract that carries a $3.7 million cap hit. Both are solid puck-moving defensemen, but Zadorov would add more size to a Bruins team seemingly relying on that stingy defense and goaltending this season. If the Bruins were to pull off a trade like this, they would also reportedly block two Eastern Conference foes from acquiring Zadorov.

On Friday, ESPN NHL Insider Kevin Weekes reported that the 6-foot-6, 235-pound defenseman was back on the NHL trade market after requesting a trade from the Flames.