There have yet to be any extension talks between the Flames and Nikita Zadorov, according to the blueliner in an appearance on Sportsnet 960 (audio link). He indicated that he was waiting for an offer over the summer but one hasn’t come just yet. The 28-year-old is in the final season of a two-year deal that carries a $3.75MM AAV and is coming off a breakout year offensively, recording 14 goals. His previous career best in that department was seven in a single season and he had just nine tallies over the prior three years combined. With that in mind, it isn’t surprising to see Calgary take a wait-and-see approach with Zadorov to see if his offensive prowess last year was a one-off or a sign of things to come.
More from Calgary:
- In an interview with Sportsnet’s Eric Francis, GM Craig Conroy stated that he wants to get goaltender Dustin Wolf into some NHL games this season but also doesn’t want him to be in a backup role where he’s playing just once a week. Accordingly, it seems likely that their plan for him this season will be to keep him with the AHL’s Wranglers where he was nothing short of dominant in 2022-23 with a 2.09 GAA and a .932 SV% in 55 games and then bring him up for spot starts with the Flames here and there. With Calgary being quite tight to the salary cap, that plan may require some creative roster movement to accomplish.
- Postmedia’s Wes Gilbertson examines the captain conundrum that the Flames are facing. The team has been without one since losing Mark Giordano to Seattle two years ago and their most logical candidate – Mikael Backlund – is on an expiring contract and is taking a wait-and-see approach to how the season starts before deciding on potentially starting extension talks. Elias Lindholm is another logical choice but he’s also on an expiring deal. In Conroy’s interview with Francis, he confirmed that a captain will be named for this season.
Give the c to Kadri
Hanafin if he signs long term? Kadri isn’t C material. Huberdeau more likely candidate.
Zadorov’s offensive prowess last season was saved for game #82. He became the second Flames D-man to post a natural HT, after Paul Reinhart’s in 1986 in a Battle of/for Alberta game. He shouldn’t get overpaid for that, but rather his D effort in his own end should be his metric. And, while I agree the Nazmanian Devil probably shouldn’t get the “C”, I’d hope they’d give serious consideration to Rasmus Andersson. Huberdeau seems like he’s still a fish out of water there.