The Canucks won’t extend Nikita Zadorov’s contract, confirmed by GM Patrik Allvin.
Zadorov will be a hot commodity in the free-agent market starting Monday. Meanwhile, the Devils are eager to trade John Marino, and Vancouver is interested if they can’t keep Zadorov.
Allvin hinted at Zadorov’s departure when he secured Tyler Myers with a three-year deal worth $3M AAV on Thursday night. With Filip Hronek also staying and Noah Juulsen as an option after 54 games last season, the Canucks’ defense lineup is shaping up. They traded third- and fifth-round picks for Zadorov from the Flames in November, making it a significant mid-season move. He fit well in his role, scoring 14 points and racking up 102 PIMs in 54 games while averaging 17:04 of ice time per game. In the playoffs, he surprised everyone with four goals and eight points in just 13 games .
Fans might think it’s sad to see him go but exciting to see who comes next.
Marino as a Potential Replacement:
Zadorov’s future is uncertain but promising; he’s seeking a six-year deal worth $36M ($6M AAV), though that might be too high given his inconsistent top-four minutes history. Still, he could land close to $5M per year due to his peak value now. To replace him, Vancouver may need to give up valuable assets for Marino, who has a more appealing $4.4M cap hit for three more seasons compared to Zadorov’s demands. Marino is younger by two years and consistently plays over 20 minutes per game since joining the league with the Penguins five years ago.
Last season, Marino was New Jersey’s top right-shot defender because Dougie Hamilton missed most of it due to injury. He scored four goals and had 25 points in 81 games but had a career-worst -6 rating—largely due to poor goalie performances from New Jersey’s rotating cast. Despite this, he managed to control 51.1% of shot attempts at even strength.
Marino’s no-trade list kicks in on July 1st with eight teams on it; it would be surprising if Pacific Division winners were included there .
What do you think about these changes?
