Geez, my expectations are well below that, but I have hope he's a legit top four/top pairing guy.
Rumor: Avs Proposals/Rumors/Free Agents 2017-18 Part II
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SoundwaveIsCharisma
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Zads is going to be at his best when he has a long leash and can just run on instinct. You can tell when he is overthinking the game, he becomes extremely hesitant and is a bit behind the play. So I agree that he likely doesn't have the hockey mind to be a consistent top flight defensemen. I do think he can be a top-pairing guy if there's a smarter player paired beside him though.
Lonewolfe brought up Burns, and I think that's the absolute ceiling of a guy like Zads, though I don't think he'll ever reach the offense that Burns is capable of. A lot of things would have to go right for him to get even close to Burns, but that's the type of player I think he'll be. One of those guys where you live with his mistakes because when he is on he can be a monster.
- Feb 24, 2012
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I think they are similar in that regard. I think EJ was a bit smarter and had a good amount more offensive talent, but similar critiques on the IQ. EJ turned the corner around ~25-26. I'd expect the same with Z. If Z lives up to his potential or even 75% of it, I think he will be solidly in his mid 20s when he does.
I think later on Z should have a long leash, but while he is still getting used to 18-20 minute loads... he needs to solidify his game. Once he can be trusted with those minutes (and that should come later this upcoming season), then he should be allowed to play his game freely. I don't think Z has the offensive talent of a Burns type of player. He just doesn't read the game nearly as well and has never had the instincts of when to pinch. To me, that isn't something that a player just picks up in their early 20s. It is either there early, or it isn't. Burns always had that as a part of his game, even when he wasn't piling up points. To me, in a lot of ways, Z is a classic hockey tease. There is so much physical talent, but so many holes in his game.
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- Dec 2, 2007
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I don't recall Burns displaying that offensive instinct in his early Minnesota days. He seemed about as awkward on the ice as Zadorov, not quite defensively strong, not quite offensively putting things together. Great raw physical skills for the most part. That's what led to his winger days, coaches felt he was such a physical specimen he could get into the crease area and do damage. Similar to Byfuglien.
That's why I say Burns when I see Zadorov play. A lot of those same awkward on ice mechanics which if they come together he'll be a solid player at both ends of the ice but more of an offensive threat than defensive stalwart. If we keep trying to force him to be a shutdown defender then he's never going to develop a NHL offensive game like he's capable of. I don't think it's his instincts that are holding back his offensive positioning (pinching or otherwise), I think it's simply a matter of learning NHL timing and not having any rope to experiment until he finds it.
That's why I say Burns when I see Zadorov play. A lot of those same awkward on ice mechanics which if they come together he'll be a solid player at both ends of the ice but more of an offensive threat than defensive stalwart. If we keep trying to force him to be a shutdown defender then he's never going to develop a NHL offensive game like he's capable of. I don't think it's his instincts that are holding back his offensive positioning (pinching or otherwise), I think it's simply a matter of learning NHL timing and not having any rope to experiment until he finds it.
- Apr 25, 2006
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Oh my God. Either you've not watched Slavin much, or you're in for a rude awekening with Zadorov.
Slavin was absolutely a #1 last year. And a good one at that.
tigervixxxen
Optimism=Delusional
- Apr 25, 2006
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What makes Burns elite is his offense though, so saying he could be Burns without the offense isn't saying much.
I don't get the Burns comparison really. Burns had obvious offensive talent even in the early days, which is why he played forward. Would you think of using Zadorov as a forward? I wouldn't.
At this point we don't have a clue how Zadorov will turn out, throwing around random big names like Buff and Burns is just setting our expectations way too high for a 22 year old mystery box.
cgf
FireBednarsSuccessor
Zads has the offensive skills & creativity, even if he didn't have enough rope to show it last season. There's a reason he's been a dynamic creator at every prior level.
- Dec 2, 2007
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Exactly. What he has shown in Colorado is what the coaches asked of him. Not his natural style.
A Burns-lite is not a bad thing. That's a physical offensive defender with the ability to not get exposed defensively. He won't shut you down but he will make plays happen and hold his own defensively. That's what I see from Zads if they let him learn through errors instead of keeping a tight leash.
- Feb 24, 2012
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Prior to his draft year, I never saw the dynamic offensive quality in his game. He had offense in London, but I wouldn't have called it dynamic or creative. When the Sabres sent him down in his +1 year, he showed a bit of that quality. I simply don't see a 40+ point guy in Z ever, but I hope to be wrong in that regard.
tigervixxxen
Optimism=Delusional
I wouldn't count on 40 either but he had decent offense in the AHL, which isn't exactly easy to do.
- Apr 25, 2006
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So realistically a 30ish pts guy, not a shutdown dman but still decent defensively. That's textbook #3.
Huh...maybe he's a bit of a sleeper like Ossi Vaananen. Ossi was actually better when paired with another defense-first guy. He wasn't an offensive generator by any means but played very aggressively when he didn't feel the need to sit back, threw hits and even jumped (yes, I said jumped) into the play on occasion.
I would really like to see the Avs employ that style. I am absolutely sick of the sit-back-and-block-everything strategy that's been employed here the last 20 years.
I would really like to see the Avs employ that style. I am absolutely sick of the sit-back-and-block-everything strategy that's been employed here the last 20 years.
AvsGuy
Hired the wrong DJ again
Well, it certainly appears that the Avs are going to take Z to his self-imposed deadline. Hopefully he was not serious about jumping to the KHL.
I almost hope he makes the jump and that forces Sakic out of here. We still obtain his rights, don't we? Bring him back in a couple years under a totally different FO and coaching staff.
tigervixxxen
Optimism=Delusional
cgf
FireBednarsSuccessor
If we lose Zads for two years...at least we won't be picking later than #4 even if we get vezina varly.
I thought after two years the rights expire and they can come back and sign with anyone.
Patagonia
Keep Whining
- Jan 6, 2017
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Losing Zadorov would certainly force Sakic to trade Duchene sooner than later. Not sure if other teams would lowball offers due to desperation, but they need to make some moves. Sakic is not getting it done and if the team finishes near the bottom, they will at least get a very good player next year. Hopefully, Sakic, Bednar and the rest of the Administration is cleared out for some competent staff.
Well then nevermind. I was thinking it was 4 more, the number of RFA years he has left.
tigervixxxen
Optimism=Delusional
- Feb 24, 2012
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RFA rights are held through the lessor age of not getting a QO, 7 accrued seasons, or 27 before July 1st of that season (or 25 for a Group VI, but Z is past that as a possibility since he has played over 80 NHL games). Right now Z has 2 accrued seasons and won't accrue 7 before his 27th birthday. So even if Z bolts, he won't be a NHL UFA until 2022.
Foppa
Future Norris Winner
So is there any indication that Z's camp is making outrageous, ludicrous demands and KHL threats or is the Avs brass just taking a hardline and putting his feet to the fire and not willing to pay him a cent more than his "money stats" say he should be paid?
If it's more the latter than the former then butchering this negotiation and letting Z walk back to Russia is way, way more egregious even than not getting a Duchene trade done. This is THE centerpiece in the last big trade you made, this guy's development is really the key to the defense improving - and what? Your going to let him walk away for 2 years (and potentially develop a lasting bad relationship) because of some moral contractual high-ground and precedent you are trying to stick to - that has worked so well up until this point? I'm going to love hearing the spin job from FO/PR on this one...
If it's more the latter than the former then butchering this negotiation and letting Z walk back to Russia is way, way more egregious even than not getting a Duchene trade done. This is THE centerpiece in the last big trade you made, this guy's development is really the key to the defense improving - and what? Your going to let him walk away for 2 years (and potentially develop a lasting bad relationship) because of some moral contractual high-ground and precedent you are trying to stick to - that has worked so well up until this point? I'm going to love hearing the spin job from FO/PR on this one...
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