Report: Canucks have one final play with Nikita Zadorov

He's going to be one of the bigger names set to hit the free agent market after reportedly rejecting a hefty offer from the Vancouver Canucks, but what exactly does the future hold for Nikita Zadorov? 

According to noted NHL insider Elliotte Friedman on his latest "32 Thoughts" podcast, it wouldn't be shocking to get an update sooner than later. 

"I think we're going to know in the next few days if there's any hope in Zadorov," he said. "Like I said it appears unlikely, but someone reached out to me and said that's not over yet. I would say the odds are less than fifty percent but someone reached out to me and said it's not over yet. They told me it might be over soon, but it's not over yet."

Meanwhile, Canucks reporter Rick Dhaliwal has confirmed that Vancouver is planning on heaving one last hail-Mary attempt at inking Zadorov to an extension: 

"A final offer is coming to Zadorov soon," he said. "The player and his agent Dan Milstein would love to re-sign in Vancouver. This is strictly about money. It's a tough contract to do because he's going to get a big raise and he's going to want term...He's left-handed. If he was right-handed, I'm telling you he would have been signed months ago."

Zadorov, whom the Canucks acquired from the Flames in late November in exchange for a 2024 fifth round and 2026 third-round draft pick, reportedly rejected a contract offer that would keep him in Vancouver long term.

In the 54 games that Zadorov played following the trade, he scored five goals with nine assists, and he added another four goals and four assists in 13 postseason games. 

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