On Friday night, the Calgary Flames suffered a devastating shootout loss to the Toronto Maple Leafs. Adding to their woes, Nikita Zadorov has formally requested a trade.
Although the Flames had already been considering trading the 28-year-old defenseman, his public request has now amplified the situation. With the team playing in Toronto, the connection to the Maple Leafs, who are in need of defensive reinforcements, is evident.
However, since this news broke, the New Jersey Devils and Vancouver Canucks have also emerged as legitimate contenders. This development suggests the possibility of a bidding war, even though the trade deadline is still months away.
Ultimately, Zadorov lacks a no-move clause, so he cannot dictate his destination. The Flames will likely seek the best possible return in any trade, but one thing we can seemingly rule out following last night's news is a move to Winnipeg.
