Nikita Zadorov Exposes The Flames And Reveals Why He Wanted A Trade

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Hunter Bowman
December 3, 2023 (2:56 PM)

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Nikita Zadorov surprised fans by requesting a trade from the Calgary Flames shortly after considering a contract extension. His wish was granted, and he found himself with the Vancouver Canucks last week, wearing No. 91 against his former Flames teammates at the Scotiabank Saddledome. In a twist of fate, he sealed the deal with a game-winning goal, hitting the empty net in the late 3rd period.

Reflecting on his debut, Zadorov, who had played 177 games for the Flames before the trade, expressed satisfaction, stating,

"It feels great. It's an important win for this team. It's a big road game. We played a really good hockey team on the road, and we stuck with it. All the boys played [hard] today. It's definitely a nice starting point of my career with the Canucks."

Before his Canucks debut, he would also shed light on why he requested a trade from Calgary despite having reportedly been open to an extension - he never received an offer.

"I haven't got a contract offer," he said.

And he doesn't seem to mind that the trade request wasn't kept private, either.

"No, I'm happy where I'm at right now," he said.

With the victory over the Flames, Vancouver's record improved to 16-8-1, while Calgary dropped to 10-11-3. The trade marked a significant moment in Zadorov's career, making a memorable impact in his debut with the Canucks.

Source: Hockeyfeed