This new Boston Bruins defender has been given a notable role at training camp.
The Boston Bruins made a major splash on July 1, signing defenseman Nikita Zadorov to a six-year, $30 million contract. The 29-year-old was one of the most notable defenders who hit the market this summer, so there is a lot of excitement about his arrival in Boston.
Zadorov is expected to be an important long-term part of the Bruins' defense. It is understandable, as the 6-foot-6 defenseman plays an incredibly heavy game, is solid defensively, and can chip in a bit offensively.
With training camp here, the Bruins have started Zadorov off in a prominent role. Head coach Jim Montgomery has been testing a pairing between Zadorov and superstar defenseman Charlie McAvoy. With this, there certainly seems to be a good chance that we could see Zadorov start the season on the club's top pairing.
When the Bruins signed Zadorov, many wondered if he would be McAvoy's new partner. Hampus Lindholm often plays on the second pairing with Brandon Carlo, while youngster Mason Lohrei could benefit from a bottom-pairing role as he continues to adjust to the NHL level. Thus, it makes sense that the Bruins have been testing out Zadorov with McAvoy so far this camp.
It will be intriguing to see if Zadorov and McAvoy can form good chemistry as training camp rolls on. If they do, don't be surprised if Zadorov starts the year with top-pairing minutes.
