BOSTON — He’s big. He’s funny and he’s physical. He plays with a swagger. He reveres Zdeno Chara and is already knowledgeable about the Patriots, Red Sox and Celtics.
The fans didn’t need to hear him speak to like him. Just watching him would sell most Bruins fans on the free-agent defenseman their team signed on Monday.
Anyone who stayed up to watch Canucks playoff games earlier this year realized how much harder he made Vancouver to play against when he was on the ice. Anyone who just searched Zadorov on YouTube could see how much his legality-tight-roping physicality could put opponents on edge. He plays how Boston fans want the Bruins to play.
For all their size on defense last year, the Bruins’ four guys who were 6-foot-4 or taller — Brandon Carlo, Hampus Lindholm, Mason Lohrei and Derek Forbort — were good players, but not especially intimidating. Their nastiest defender was 6-foot-1 Charlie McAvoy, who was willing to play like a linebacker in the body of a cornerback.
By comparison, Zadorov is an edge rusher and he’s mean. He’s 6-foot-6 and 248 pounds and he uses it. Opposing forwards hurry out of corners – if they’ve entered them at all – when he’s on the ice hunting hits.
That style of play will win over lots of fans in Boston, where the Big Bad Bruins of old are still icons, for not just their success but their style of play. Fans will forgive an occasional ill-timed penalty if it means having a guy, who puts fear into opponents.
Zadorov could just shut up and hit people and he’d have fans lining up to buy him a beer
But he did talk Monday and his first impression is likely to be a hit.
Speaking to the media, he either knew about Boston sports already or had done his homework on the topic, which he brought up unprompted. Either the knowledge or the effort will earn him points.
