Woodhouse
Registered User
Four-direction skater with all-around abilities to excel as a pro. Powerfully strong prospect wth great size, wheels, balance, and burst. Plays tough and is a player that gets noticed by the opposition because he goes after them. Uses his balance and natural talent to get in strong hits all over the ice and still maintains position and keeps focused on the game. Plays nasty, and can beat you on O or D. The "Russian factor" had him pushed back in the rankings, but his arrival in North America will most certainly gain him strong first round consideration. You don't get a strong two-way defenseman from the outset, but you do get a big physical one who will engage attackers with regularity. There certainly is time for growth of an offensive game, as long as he chooses to stick around North America and develop one.
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Zadorov is a project 2-way defenseman. He has a hard shot from the point, lays open ice hits and uses his premier size all over the ice. He's an average skater who likes to rush the puck.
FC
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The potential that some evaluators see in Zadorov has them projecting the next big physical two-way NHL defender. He shows a nice combination of mobility, strength and puck skills. He skates very well for a player of his size and shows strong footwork, balance and mobility. He makes strong plays with the puck, and reads the play well. Zadorov’s first pass is strong and he does not try to force things that are just not there. His point shot is very hard and although his windup is a little on the long side, still should be considered a weapon. His strength is his physical game as he is willing to unload a devastating hit, mercilessly eliminate opponents along the boards or drop the gloves and teach an opponent a lesson about manners towards his teammates or himself.
HF
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Zadorov is the not-so-gentle giant on the Knights’ blueline. He’s a personable kid off the ice, but certainly one that you wouldn’t want to mess with on it. Zadorov had an up-and-down year with the Knights this season as he seemed to be searching for an identity. At 6’5 and over 230 pounds, the Moscow-born Zadorov has the physicality to dominate. And, at times, his zeal to lay out his opponents with the big hit can take him out of the play. But as the year progressed, Zadorov learned to reign in his physicality and became a much more effective stay-at-home blueliner. He has a solid shot, but doesn’t project as a number-one blueliner. However, he should fit very nicely on a top pairing as the defensively responsible, crease-clearer for whom so many teams are looking.
Hockey Prospect
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Early in the season, he would chase hits and put himself out of position, making his team outnumbered down low. Now he regularly lets the play come to him, maintaining much better one on one positioning. He will still use his body effectively, but will pick his spots and do it at intelligent times. Nikita has underrated puck skills and is capable of skating the puck up ice and gaining the offensive zone. Another area he has improved is his puck handling ability. He was hit or miss early in the year but now he’s a lot more consistent and intelligent with both his decisions and actual puck skills. He’s effective holding the offensive line and generally can get his shot through from the point with smart shooting decisions. Nikita has provided some offense at the junior level while playing a solid defensive game making him a valuable defenseman at both ends. Right now, Nikita looks more like a physical shutdown defenseman who is just now discovering his offensive potential. His overall shooting ability needs improvement...read more.
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Zadorov is an elite physical player who possesses many tools for future success. He has a 6'5", 220-pound frame, and he is unusually strong for a player his age. He uses it to his advantage, as he loves to take the body and land highlight reel hits. He skates at an above-average to plus level, which is significant for a player at his size. He can close gaps remarkably well. The rest of his game is not as impressive, but he could be a fine puck mover and positional defender. Scouting sources have divided opinion on both of those fronts. He has improved as the OHL season has progressed. He shows ability to move the puck and make good reads in his own end, but his decision making is not always perfect. He possesses some offensive upside, but it is likely more in the average range.
ISS
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“Potential is the name of the game with Zadorov,” says Ross MacLean, head scout for International Scouting Services. “He is already a tremendously skilled and intimidating defender with explosive physical and technical abilities, but has an absolute ton of room left for further development and physical maturation. He has tremendous size with a monstrous frame that has plenty of room to build on, but is already significantly stronger than a lot of his competition. He loves to hit and can throw some seriously heavy bodychecks. He moves well for his size, is decently-mobile and loves to join the rush,” MacLean adds. “He has a very strong shot that he still hasn’t really become comfortable showing off on a consistent basis. Zadorov could potentially become the Russian Shea Weber, but will still require a few years of development before that potential becomes close to reality.”
McKeen's Hockey
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A remarkably light and agile skater given his mammoth 6-foot-5, 230-pound frame .. transitions rapidly to offence, his mobility allowing him to jump into the rush and recover with relative ease .. his feet are softer than his hands however .. adequately skilled - makes a crisp and accurate first pass - but will need to continue refining his finesse skills .. gradually grew more effective on the power play - demonstrating better vision distributing the puck and learning to harness a booming slapshot which can go wildly off target...read more.
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“Zadorov is a projection pick,” echoes David Burstyn, director of scouting for McKeen’s Hockey. “When you look at him, you marvel at the type of things that he’s able to do at his size. He skates with unbelievable agility, both in reverse and lateral, and straight-ahead. He always jumped in the rush this year acting kind of as a fourth forward, even though his point totals didn’t necessarily reflect that. He’s great in transition and he could easily recover if he got up ice too high. His point shot is a little erratic,” Burstyn adds. “He was experimented at times on the power-play, but he would probably factor into more of a shutdown guy at the NHL level. When he hits, he can absolutely annihilate a player and eliminate them completely from the play. He has to work on his puck skills. He can make a good short-term and long-term pass, but the puck skills at this point is the one thing he needs to refine. I thought he did a good job this year playing North American hockey; he adjusted really well and helped the London Knights win another OHL championship and get a berth in the Memorial Cup.”
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When you're 6'5, 230lbs, you can hit like a truck, and you have no issues with mobility, you're going to get consideration inside the lottery. That's the case for Zadorov. The size he possesses is obviously awesome, but when you combine it with a slick, effortless, skating stride it becomes even better. He's incredibly difficult to beat off the rush because he can skate with you, but also has that long stick and aggressive nature which makes him hard to get around. That aggressive nature is also very appealing. He's definitely become one of the most physical players in the OHL. His hits hurt and he strikes a lot of fear into opposing forwards. He'll plant you on your butt in the neutral zone, he'll rub you out in the corners, and he'll stick you in the back in front of the net. He's simply a physical beast. I do feel at times that he becomes too physically focused though. He can be prone to taking himself out of position in order to go for a big hit and at times, he'll get caught scrambling in the defensive end after engaging too long in the corners. He needs to learn that he can be effective sometimes by just using his reach and positioning and that occasionally that big hit just doesn't need to happen. In order to become a truly terrific defensive player, he'll also need to tighten up his coverage reads. Sometimes he can get caught standing around watching the play. In terms of his offensive game, I think he can be a fairly effective player at the next level. I don't see a future 40-50 point guy. But, if he continues to work on his breakout, gains confidence in his ability to skate with the puck, and improves the accuracy of his shot, he could be a second powerplay guy and possible 30 point dman. He has enough skill with the puck to make things happen off the rush, but he's not incredibly aggressive and doesn't usually break the opposing blueline. Towards the end of the season and into the playoffs (and Memorial Cup), he was starting to be more aggressive without the puck offensively; taking chances by jumping up in the play or trying to slip in the backdoor. Bottom line is that Zadorov has the skill set to be a very solid two-way guy at the next level and someone who can log 20 minutes a night for your team.
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Zadorov made huge strides in his first season with the Knights, developing a reputation as a physical, two-way defender. He jumped up in the rush at a moment’s notice and displayed soft hands around the goal area. He can make a strong first pass and start the rush offensively. Zadorov plays a solid defensive game, underlined by a bruising and punishing physical style. He has the size, at six-foot-four and 200 pounds, that can stand to add another 30 pounds of muscle once he fills out. He’s far from a finished product, but his development is on the right track towards becoming a big-time defender.
TSN
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Nikita is another of the 'big man' defence prospects. His skating base is very good and his stride is long and powerful and he's able to gain a lot of ice quickly. This allows him to be a threat offensively but it also makes it very difficult to gain an advantage on him defensively. He will play physical and he can be a significant physical presence in the game. He has good awareness with the puck and has a heavy shot that can make it very difficult for goaltenders to corral it. He has developed defensively where he recognizes the situation and makes very solid plays and is not using his skills to make up for mistakes but is using them to impact the game. He has the potential to be a top three defenceman in the NHL.
A/V Club
Draft-Day Interviews
2013.06.30 – Brian Duff interviews Nikita Zadorov after being selected 16th overall. <1:42>
2013.06.30 – Nikita Zadorov meets with the media after being selected 16th overall. <4:55>
2013.06.30 – Nikita Zadorov meets with the media after being selected 16th overall. <1:48>
2013.06.30 – Nikita Zadorov (and Alexander Wennberg) speak with Cabbie Richards in TSN's Social Lounge. <4:24>
2013.07.02 – London head coach Dale Hunter joins WGR's Howard Simon Show to talk Nikita Zadorov. <4:45>
2013.07.02 – Nikita Zadorov joins WGR's Schopp & The Bulldog. <8:24>
2013.07.03 – Nikita Zadorov joins WGR's Hockey Hotline. <11:07>
Full Games (Log)
2012.10.19 – London vs Erie. <100:32>
YouTube Clips
Draft-Day Interviews
2013.06.30 – Brian Duff interviews Nikita Zadorov after being selected 16th overall. <1:42>
2013.06.30 – Nikita Zadorov meets with the media after being selected 16th overall. <4:55>
2013.06.30 – Nikita Zadorov meets with the media after being selected 16th overall. <1:48>
2013.06.30 – Nikita Zadorov (and Alexander Wennberg) speak with Cabbie Richards in TSN's Social Lounge. <4:24>
2013.07.02 – London head coach Dale Hunter joins WGR's Howard Simon Show to talk Nikita Zadorov. <4:45>
2013.07.02 – Nikita Zadorov joins WGR's Schopp & The Bulldog. <8:24>
2013.07.03 – Nikita Zadorov joins WGR's Hockey Hotline. <11:07>
Full Games (Log)
2012.10.19 – London vs Erie. <100:32>
YouTube Clips
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