Report exposes Maple Leafs’ failed pursuit of Nikita Zadorov and fans are furious

Toronto came close to adding one of the league’s biggest and most physical defenders, Nikita Zadorov, last year, but the Boston Bruins ultimately won the bidding war by a thin margin.

According to Sportsnet insider Elliotte Friedman on his 32 Thoughts column, the Leafs were willing to offer up to $5.5 million per year for Zadorov, while Boston went slightly higher with a six-year, $30 million contract, edging Toronto by roughly $500,000.

Friedman noted the difference was mostly financial, suggesting the contract structure was similar, though exact term details remain unclear.

Zadorov, a massive 6’7”, 255-pound defenseman known for his heavy, punishing style, would have been a natural fit for a Maple Leafs team looking to add more bite to its blue line. He’s a player who could throw his weight around and change the tone of games physically, a quality that likely tempted GM Brad Treliving. For the right price.

Instead, Toronto turned to other defensive acquisitions: Oliver Ekman-Larsson on a four-year, $3.5 million deal, and Chris Tanev on a six-year, $4.5 million AAV. While both bring experience and skill, Zadorov would have added a more imposing, bruising presence.

Friedman didn’t detail why Toronto drew the line at their offer, but the nearly completed deal shows the Leafs were willing to push for a physical defender, just not quite enough to outbid a rival. But he made sure to add, ahead of the Leafs’ next game against Boston:

“Now that the Maple Leafs have a WWE partnership, maybe they dress Roman Reigns against.”

In the end, Boston secured a player who could swing momentum with a single hit, while Toronto missed out on an opportunity to add one of the league’s most intimidating bodies to their roster.