Nikita Zadorov has been a Vancouver Canuck for nearly a month and says the adjustment has been smooth.

Zadorov was a surprising acquisition for the Vancouver Canucks at the end of November, arriving from the Calgary Flames in exchange for a 2024 fifth-round pick and a 2026 third-round pick. He spent parts of three seasons in Alberta before leaving the team.

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 always great to come in to a team with really high expectations. The boys were rolling before I got here as well,B次元官网网址� said Zadorov, reflecting on the trade.

The change of scenery was welcomed by Zadorov after things soured for him in Calgary.

B次元官网网址淟ast year was a lot of ups and downs for me. This year wasnB次元官网网址檛 great for me in Calgary, not what we expected,B次元官网网址� he said.

Zadorov requested a trade in mid-November, after Dan Milstein B次元官网网址� the defencemanB次元官网网址檚 agent B次元官网网址� took to social media raising concerns about his clientB次元官网网址檚 ice time.

While his ice time has stayed roughly the same on the Canucks, averaging over 18 minutes per game, the move to Vancouver and up the standings has helped.

B次元官网网址淣ow being on top of the table is cool and you can take pride in it,B次元官网网址� Zadorov said.

Consensus at the time of the trade was that the Canucks had underpaid for the six-foot-six blueliner with other teams in desperate need of strengthening on defence.

B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檇 been checking around the league and Nikita was a name that was out there,B次元官网网址� said Canucks general manager Patrik Allvin. B次元官网网址淗eB次元官网网址檚 unique in terms of size and ability to move in todayB次元官网网址檚 game.B次元官网网址�

Zadorov has one assist, 13 blocked shots and 17 hits with the Canucks through 11 games.

B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檝e been trying to focus on the defensive side for now,B次元官网网址� said Zadorov. B次元官网网址淭hatB次元官网网址檚 why I think they brought me here as well. IB次元官网网址檓 not worried about my points or my offensive game while this team is winning.B次元官网网址�

HeB次元官网网址檚 finished all but two games in the plus column and sits at plus-three through his 11 games with Vancouver so far.

B次元官网网址淭hereB次元官网网址檚 a lot of learning points for me because of new players, new teammates, new system, new things the coaches want to see from me,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 only been 11 games but I think IB次元官网网址檓 progressing every single game.B次元官网网址�

Zadorov has been reunited with fellow defensive giant Tyler Myers, who is six-foot-eight, on the Canucks. The pair briefly played together in Buffalo.

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 been getting better every game. HeB次元官网网址檚 probably never played with such a big guy before and IB次元官网网址檝e never played with such a big guy,B次元官网网址� Zadorov said about being reunited with his former Sabres teammate.

Myers laughs about the joke about their respective heights.

B次元官网网址淗is first year in Buffalo, I was there with him. ItB次元官网网址檚 been a pretty big gap since weB次元官网网址檝e been teammates but itB次元官网网址檚 been going well,B次元官网网址� said Myers.

Myers adds that having two larger defencemen means theyB次元官网网址檙e able to use their reach and sticks as an advantage as well as use their bodies to limit forwards along the boards.

Canucks head coach Rick Tocchet said heB次元官网网址檚 pleased with ZadarovB次元官网网址檚 adjustment to the team as the one-month mark approaches, and added thereB次元官网网址檚 more to come.

B次元官网网址淗e knows thereB次元官网网址檚 another level. HeB次元官网网址檚 played really well for us but for a guy thatB次元官网网址檚 big like that, can skate and shoot, thereB次元官网网址檚 another level for him,B次元官网网址� Tocchet said.

Part of that comes from learning a different style of play from ZadorovB次元官网网址檚 time in Calgary as well as adjusting to new teammates and defensive responsibilities, Tocchet added.

Zadorov is in the final year of a US$3.75 million deal and set to become an unrestricted free agent on July 1.

Nick Wells, The Canadian Press

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