Nikita Zadorov headed to Seattle?
The Blackhawks didn’t make many significant waves when they announced the players the organization is leaving unprotected in the upcoming Seattle Expansion Draft, which begins at 7 p.m. CT on Wednesday. The Expansion Draft will air on ESPN 2 in the United States.
Here are the players Chicago has officially made available to Vegas:
- Ryan Carpenter
- Brett Connolly
- Calvin de Haan
- Collin Delia
- Josh Dickinson
- Adam Gaudette
- Vinnie Hinostroza
- Anton Lindholm
- Brandon Pirri
- John Quenneville
- Zack Smith
- Malcolm Subban
- Nikita Zadorov
There are already reports out there that Seattle will take Zadorov, who the Blackhawks tried to trade without success. Zadorov is a restricted free agent.
Seattle likely to pluck Dman Nikita Zadorov from #Blackhawks. Chicago was unsuccessful in moving him prior to yesterday’s deadline. #seakraken
— Andy Strickland (@andystrickland) July 18, 2021
Can we figure out a way to have Seattle take all of those guy? Well … except Gaudette who I think has potential to be a top-6 winger and would like to have him realize that potential wearing a Hawks jersey (which probably means he’s the guy they select).
It’s a weird place to be in where you hope the team gets rid of players more than acquires players – I guess that testimony the Hawks are not very good and are still in the tear down phase of the rebuild, at least partially.
Those players are a group of either/and too old, too costly, too suck, too in the way of young players – find a way to get rid of all of them should be the objective.
I feel kind of bad for not wanting Hinostroza back but he would take ice time away from young players with potential to be better than him so sorry Vinnie but you have to seek employment elsewhere.
I will not be disappointed if SEA takes Z but I will be surprised – he’s arb eligible and I wouldn’t have thought that the Kracken either a) would want to pay what Z is asking ($5-6 per) or b) would want go to arbitration with a player they just selected
Maybe Z lightens up on his ask and SEA will have these next few days to figure out what it would take to sign him so maybe they can come to an agreement
If they do though we’ll still have CDH to play on the left side and then flip at TDL opening up another roster spot and if they are successful in acquiring Jones either this year or next then the rebuild on defense is well under way
If I were Seattle I’d be looking closely at what’s out there. A lot of teams have some much better d-men available than Zadorov. If you look at his stats he really is an over achiever . His size is his only good trait, I’d rather have a player that can move the puck, shoot the puck, and control the puck, something Zadorov has yet to learn. If he goes let it be.
I had Gaudette on the protected list, with the Krackheads taking Kanpf, but the Hawks have them switched.
I can’t see them taking Z, too much Cap for his production. Gaudette and Hinostroza will be cheap with upside.
Big body hate to loose him guess he thought he was worth more than hawks thought glad to see hawks more diligent with the money more cap cleared spend wisely wait for opportunities it’s our turn to turn the tables and cash in stay on course Stan no more long term deals wait till next year draft going to be good next year keep moving forward
I’m sure Big Z would love to get the heck out of here. Who wants to be criticized for doing his job?? If Seattle claims him it will be because they will let him be “Big Z”. I think he inflated his salary demand just to make StanBo dump him. A soft non physical team will just get softer. Big Z was the only player here that opposing teams had to watch out for. Expect most NHL teams to continue to laugh at us and expect most teams to try to run over our “stars” with no recourse. Way to go StanBo!!!
Be surprised if Zadorov is picked without Seattle being able to sign him before Wednesday and be sure to avoid arbitration.
Can we toss in some sticks and pucks to make sure they take him ??
@ian..correct..i’d be shocked if they’re selecting Zadorov unless they already have an agreement on an extension in place..they’re not taking him if they have to potentially go to arbitration..personally, I was hoping that they would take DeHaan, but I don’t think Zadorov’s absence on the blueline will hurt the Hawks much, if at all..between Jones and Stillman, I think the Hawks have plenty of third pair production for the left side of the blueline..as @wrap correctly mentioned, keeping DeHaan and even Carpenter also provides the Hawks with an opportunity to flip both of them at the tdl as rental pickups for a playoff bound team..so this scenario still has some upside for the Hawks..
@hammertime..Zadorov is a huge body, but I wouldn’t exactly call him an intimidator because the word around the league is out..he doesn’t like to fight anymore..so while he’s a large presence on the ice, he’s not really much of an enforcer(nor was he signed to be, but he doesn’t have that snarl to his game anymore)..that being said, I do like the dimension he brings to our blueline, but not at the price he was evidently looking to be paid..so if Seattle takes him, so be it..the decision to expose him wasn’t made in a vacuum..contract length, annual cap hit, roster construction, etc..everything has to be weighed together..
@ebonyraptor..fortunately, a handful of those names won’t be back next year anyway..Vinnie, Quenneville, Prirri, Lindholm and Smith are all ufa..and Delia, Subban, DeHaan and Carpenter are ufa after this season..so most of those players won’t be on the Hawks much longer, if at all..the Hawks are making room for the youngsters..
@ Slayer. Yes Big Z is not an enforcer but if you take him out of the picture you have nobody on that team who will look out for other players and nobody else who will lay a hit on anyone. Was a +1 last year for our team. Yes there’s no way StanBo can pay him what he wants and what he probably wants is to get out of here. He will sign for less somewhere else. Anybody that plays with heart and watches out for his teammates gets shipped out, the last was Caggiula.
Good point we want to get bigger not smaller sign him for 1 year then flip him at the deadline
I hope Zadarov is picked by Seattle. The Saad trades were all a mistake, so let’s let it go! We have to move on with almost $20M in cap space and LTIR space, so let’s get one or two of Landeskog, Hamilton, Seth Jones, Hyman, or some other star quality players.
I feel like the Kracken is going to take Gaudette.
I actually like the pre-Blackhawk Zadorov. Then Jeremy “Ghandi” Colliton got ahold of him and ruined his game.
looks a trade that keeps on hunting Blowman. Trades Breadman for Sadd, Sadd traded for a bum. sounds right on how Blowman trades. hey every blind squirrel will find a nut. that said TAB when does Vegas do another expansion draft isn’t it Seattle. D STAR journalism TAB
Cant wait for the facts to come out with this harassment again the Hawks. We will see who is evil!
Saad for Panarin, Zadorof for Saad, Zadorof for Zilch! Way to go Stan!
This. Add some elites just make sure we have room for two top pair Defensemen in next 36 mths. One now or soon and other by 36 mths.
We need to not be top heavy though add the elites back that we donot have and as many 81 4 2 7.
12 is a good for Sharpys core spot.
The salary cap will work itself out on its own and when any of young wavers are a core player then just trade on of the older ones then.
TOMMY IVAN
July 19, 2021 at 8:45 pm
I hope Zadarov is picked by Seattle. The Saad trades were all a mistake, so let’s let it go! We have to move on with almost $20M in cap space and LTIR space, so let’s get one or two of Landeskog, Hamilton, Seth Jones, Hyman, or some other star quality players.
GOLDEN RUG
July 19, 2021 at 9:29 pm
I feel like the Kracken is going to take Gaudette.
Get rid of All Huge players off this team… We have too many… Keep working on Boquist (who is on concussion #4) ? Maybe trade Murphy too.. then use 6 smurfs as D-men and 3 backup goalies to win next Cup… “ yeah, dats da ticket”… LMAO.
Sorry, Hamilton is a big softy
A bad trade when it was made…..only looks worse now.
One of a multitude made by Bowman, who amazingly still holds his job.
He has Guyana Grape Kool Aid available for all who wish to drink.
Seems like Blackhawk hockey in the early 2000’s all over again.
(Hey, Where is Mike Smith when you need him?)
Drop of puck to begin new season is three months away and it seems like Bowman-Colliton are here to stay.
That means me and CBH playoff hockey will be gone from this site for a long time.
Good thing the rest of the league is so intriguingly watchable.
On the one hand, I think that Zadorov is more valuable to the Hawks because he was so good in the defensive zone at separating the skater from the puck. But on the flip side, he wasn’t that great at getting the puck out of the zone… Clearly, for the price, he is not someone the Hawks need to prioritize. I’m good with that.
Still not sure I get how Kampf, who has proven he has a fourth line ceiling as a defensive specialist (on one of the statistically worst defenses over the last few years…) is more valuable to the Hawks than Gaudette who is an unknown with top six potential and physical skills (speed, hands, some size) that could translate to the modern NHL.
Only thing that makes sense to me is that it feels like a gambit to offer Z some protection from being the obvious pick. If the Hawks feel like losing Gaudette is better than losing Z, it might Give Seattle a low cost alternative with upside rather than overpay for Z who is probably closer to his ceiling than anyone wants to admit.
My problem with that logic, is that I would rather the Hawks walk from Z and give Gaudette a legitimate look to see if he has the stuff to play a role in the top six. Outside of Kane and DeBrincat, it’s not like the Hawks are dripping with top six talent. Personally, I think you build a team from the top down. To a team not making the playoffs the past several years (the play in was a gimmick, that I don’t count, despite what the standings say…) the potential of Gaudette being the guy in a top six role is more valuable than the reality of Kampf (fourth line ceiling) or Z )likely as good as he is ever going to be…)
Bowman needs to go. Terrible trades. Destroyed the roster. If he kept Panarin and saad u are set already. If he kept Lehner u have a goalie. He is a disgrace to organization. Hopefully after this sexual harassment investigation is over it will come out that he was a part of the cover-up and he is gone. It’s amazing that he is still employed by the Blackhawks he must have some major dirt and someone in the organization. The only reason he even has a job within hockey is his father