Jim Montgomery did not hold back when talking about Nikita Zadorov and called him out

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Joshua Deeds
November 9, 2024 (12:54)

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The Boston Bruins have an issue, Nikita Zadarov. He was brought in to be the crushing, Big, Bad Bruins style of player.

He's got the physicality and build for being a bruiser and has some offensive upside to add to it. Don Sweeney and the Bruins believed in his ability so much so that they signed him to a 6-year, $30 Million deal in July.

Despite that, his first season in Boston hasn't offered us much hope as fans, as he's been racking up penalty minutes like they're going out of style, with 27 so far.

His lack of play and follow-through with the Bruins has led to Head Coach Jim Montgomery calling him out today during an interview.

'I don't see him pressing. I think overall he's finding his way in our systems, and I think at times he looks like he's understanding exactly what we're trying to accomplish, and at times he looks like he's not,' said the coach in Thursday's press conference.

Like the rest of the Bruins Zadarov has gotten a slow start with a new team, he hasn't been able to find his groove.

As Zadarov countered the narrative from his own Coach in the Media:

'I think the last five games I've really gotten into it, and it's been good, it's been easy so far,' Zadorov said.

In his last 5 games, let's take a look at the stats, 1 point(1 A) in 5 games, with a +3, and 7 shots on goal, with 16 blocks, 45 hits, and 16 giveaways.

It seems that for a former 1st round pick in 2013, making $5 Million a year, they expect the kind of play they saw in Calgary and Vancouver.

But will they get it, is the question at hand? Pierre McGuire thinks it's a matter of coaching, or maybe too many cooks in the kitchen.

'He's very nasty, the biggest thing with him, and I don't want to scare Bruins fans. He got be receptive to coaching. He moved around a lot, and when you're a player that big, that fast, that tough, the question starts to be why he moved around so much? Those are hard guys to find.'

Is he listening to Montgomery, or is he just doing what he likes? There's a reason the cogs aren't turning like they should. Who should really share the blame here?

Is it Monty? Zadarov? Or are both parties to blame this season?