Nikita Zadorov will not re-sign with Canucks, will test free agency

Vancouver Canucks’ General Manager Patrik Allvin told reporters Friday the club and defenseman Nikita Zadorov could not come to an agreement, and the pending unrestricted free agent will test the market.

Allvin would say that the club wanted to re-sign the blueliner, but they couldn’t agree to a number.

“I can’t overpay one single player and Nikita Zadorov was extremely good for us in the playoffs and a character guy,” Allvin said. “We did our best and he decided that he wanted to go somewhere else.”

Last season, Zadorov had six goals and 14 assists for 20 points in 75 regular-season games, splitting the season between the Canucks and Calgary Flames. He averaged 17:26 through the season.

In 11 seasons, Zadorov had 47 goals and 99 assists for 146 points in 642 career NHL games with the Canucks, Flames, Chicago Blackhawks, Colorado Avalanche and Buffalo Sabres.

It’s been a busy week for the Canucks, re-signing Tyler Myers to a three-year deal worth $3 million per season, as well as Dakota Joshua to a four-year contract with an AAV of $3.25 million.

The team also made a trade Wednesday, sending Ilya Mikheyev and his $4.75 million cap hit, along with pending UFA Sam Lafferty and a second-round pick to the Chicago Blackhawks for a fourth-round pick in 2027.

Now on the even of the NHL Entry Draft and a few days from the beginning of free agency, those following the club now wonder what the chances are for the Canucks landing a big-name free agent like Jake Guentzel.