The 26-year-old is entering his eighth season after spending the first 411 regular-season games (and 33 playoff tilts) with the Buffalo Sabres, Colorado Avalanche and Blackhawks.
Last year, he had a goal and eight helpers, along with 36 penalty minutes and a +1 rating, while averaging upwards of 19 minutes per game in ice time.
With Mark Giordano gone to the Seattle Kraken, Zadorov will likely see big minutes in a Top-4 role, sharing the load with fellow southpaw Noah Hanifin, who himself is coming off a breakout campaign.
The opportunity here is a good one.
And Zadorov isn't taking anything for granted.
"I definitely have experience in this league, but I'm only 26 years old," he said. "There's lots I can improve on, but there's a lot of potential in me to achieve that, too. I think I can be an even better player than I've been the past couple of years, and that's what I've been working so hard it over the off-season.
"I feel like I have a lot more to show."
In seven years on the pro circuit, Zadorov has done plenty of that already. Head over to YouTube, type his name in the search bar and you'll see.
You're immediately greeted with a stunning visual - hard-hitting highlight packs, quick clips and sizzle reels by the dozen:
"Nikita Zadorov absolutely destroys Jace Hawryluk with a bomb of a hit"
"Tempers flare after Zadorov lays massive hit on Scheifele"
"Zadorov lays out Hornqvist with huge open-ice hit"
"Nikita Zadorov - The Russian Kamikaze"
That is but a sampling.
And, yes, included in that batch was a little melee with Milan Lucic that both parties hilariously touched on a few weeks ago.
Point is, the D man arrives as advertised.
He brings a physical dimension to the Flames blueline that immediately transforms the look and makes the team significantly harder to play against.
