Canucks defenseman Nikita Zadorov has fit in quite well since being acquired from Vancouver and has seen his playing time jump to over 20 minutes a night in the playoffs while adding four goals and four assists. That performance certainly will help his cause as he reaches unrestricted free agency for the first time this summer. To that end, Daily Faceoff’s Frank Seravalli suggested in a recent appearance of Canucks Conversation by Canucks Army (video link) that the blueliner could be seeking a six-year contract with an AAV in the $6MM range this summer. That would certainly represent a sizable raise on his current $3.75MM price tag while giving him some contractual stability which he hasn’t had; since his entry-level deal, Zadorov hasn’t had a contract longer than two years.
More from Vancouver:
- While goaltender Thatcher Demko has resumed skating, head coach Rick Tocchet told reporters including Postmedia’s Steve Ewen that it “would be a stretch” for his starter to return in this series. He has been out since suffering a knee injury in the first game of the opening round against Nashville. However, Arturs Silovs has done well in his absence, posting a 2.62 GAA and a .907 SV%, getting them a game away from being Edmonton which lessens the urgency to get Demko back in the lineup.
- After missing last game with an undisclosed injury, it doesn’t appear as if winger Ilya Mikheyev will return tonight. Thomas Drance of The Athletic relays (Twitter link) that there’s unlikely to be any lineup changes tonight which means he’ll be out once again. Mikheyev took part in the optional skate with Demko which suggests he’s not too far away from returning. It has been a tough postseason for the 29-year-old as he has been held off the scoresheet in ten games after scoring just once in his last 50 regular season contests.
- Speaking of injuries, Rick Dhaliwal of CHEK and The Athletic reports (Twitter link) that blueliner Ian Cole is dealing with an undisclosed lower-body injury. The veteran has had some struggles this round but is still logging over 15 minutes a night while chipping in with nearly three blocks per game in the first five matches of this series.
Zadorov at 6×6???