From a media, and subsequently the fan’s perspective, the expectations were always a bit overboard, compared to who Zadorov is as an actual player. That’s almost always the case in a Canadian market though.
That said, he’s also always thought of himself, as a much better player than he’s been over his career, and has no problem letting everyone in the locker room, know about it. Obviously, that can rub teammates the wrong way. Especially if you have a group of egos, who’ve all put that aside, and bought into what their coach is selling.
Couple that with the Canucks desperately looking for some cap space… this would be the last front office who would hold onto a player because they just acquired him.
Let’s face it, there are a lot of managers who would never trade a player they just acquired, out of pure ego. That doesn’t even have to mean they think he’s an issue. Just that, if they can make the team better by moving him, they won’t hesitate.
Think it’s also becoming obvious, the Canucks have been working on something they’re having trouble getting done, because of cap space.
There’s been too much smoke from a front office who leaks, not to come to that conclusion. Because cap space is an issue with any deal right now, they may have to find somewhere else to trade a Kuzmenko or Zadorov, than to the team they have a deal with. If it’s for Chychrun for example, Ottawa’s not going to take Kuzmenko or Zadorov.
With all of the Kuzmenko, and now Zadorov speculation being leaked, they’re definitely up to something. If it’s for a Dman who can carry that second pairing for 20+ minutes a night, they become much harder to beat in a 7 game series.
Whether they prefer dealing Zadorov or not, doesn’t matter. If doing so helps them get that core piece they desperately need, they’ll do it.
