The Canucks received’t be agreeing to an extension for UFA defenseman Nikita Zadorov, normal supervisor Patrik Allvin confirmed (through Patrick Johnston of The Province and The Vancouver Sun). He’ll be one of many extra sought-after protection choices obtainable when the free-agent market opens Monday.
It could not take them very lengthy to search out his substitute, although. The Devils are “actively trying to transfer” right-shot stalwart John Marino, Frank Seravalli of Daily Faceoff stories. He provides Vancouver has been within the combine for his companies, particularly as a fallback possibility in the event that they couldn’t come to phrases on a brand new deal for Zadorov.
We had our first indication that Zadorov could also be heading out the door when Allvin moved to get Tyler Myers locked right into a three-year, $3M AAV extension Thursday evening. His re-signing, together with the retention of pending RFA Filip Hronek earlier within the month, meant 4 of the Canucks’ spots on protection subsequent season have been firmly accounted for. Noah Juulsen stays an possibility after skating in 54 video games final yr, and depth blue liner Mark Friedman might be again within the rotation after signing a one-way extension over per week in the past.
Vancouver parted methods with a third-round and fifth-round decide to get Zadorov from the Flames again in November, marking one of many first actually consequential in-season trades. This technology’s “Large Z” was a pure slot in a bottom-four position, placing up 14 factors and 102 PIMs in 54 video games as a Canuck whereas seeing 17:04 of ice time per contest. The playoffs have been the place Zadorov made his killing this yr, although, because the usually stay-at-home defenseman turned an element on the scoresheet with 4 objectives and eight factors in 13 video games.
The place he’ll land is anybody’s guess at this stage, however he’ll have loads of suitors and received’t take lengthy to search out his subsequent residence. He’s anticipated to hunt a six-year, $36M pact ($6M AAV), per a report from Seravalli final month, though that’s possible too wealthy for anybody’s blood, given he doesn’t have a constant historical past of top-four minutes. He ought to nonetheless be capable of money in considerably together with his worth at its peak, although, and will land a longer-term deal nearer to $5M per season.
The Canucks could properly have to surrender important property to accumulate Marino as his substitute, however he checks in at a way more enticing $4.4M cap hit for 3 extra seasons in comparison with what Zadorov was asking for. Marino can also be two years youthful and has averaged at the very least 20 minutes per sport since breaking into the league with the Penguins 5 years in the past, constantly seeing harder utilization and heavier penalty-kill obligations.
Marino served because the Devils’ de facto prime right-shot defender for many of final season, with Dougie Hamilton lacking all however 20 video games with a pectoral damage. He checked in about anticipated offensively, recording 4 objectives and 25 factors in 81 video games however did have a career-worst -6 ranking. That was definitely exacerbated by poor play from New Jersey’s rotating forged of goaltenders, although, as he nonetheless managed to manage 51.1% of shot makes an attempt at even power, roughly in step with his profession common.
It’s value noting Marino has an eight-team no-trade record that goes into impact on July 1. It could be odd to see the reigning Pacific Division winners maintain a spot on his NTC, however in any occasion, it’s possible a cause why Devils GM Tom Fitzgerald is making an attempt so exhausting to get him moved earlier than free company opens. They’re trying to improve their second-pair right-shot man behind Hamilton, with soon-to-be-former Hurricane Brett Pesce a person of interest.