If the Hawks are getting the 17/18 Zadorov who averaged almost 20 minutes a game and led the league with 278 hits and most concussions given, the Hawks won the trade, hands down. He was a legit second pairing guy who trucked everyone coming home into the zone and was a game changer in a sense you had to know when he was on the ice.
In open ice, Zadorov is a scary guy. In close quarters, he's a pylon. He doesn't play the cycle well and has tunnel vision looking for the big hit. His game is all about hitting. He routinely gets outta place looking to crush somebody and more then regularly is in a corner when the other team scores in front of the net.
But, in 17/18, his positives outweighed his negatives. His perfect partner would be Boqvist if Boqvist can develop into the guy who can move the puck once Zadorov knocks a puck carrier into the second row.
The Av's play a more possession type of game, they didn't need him. It just makes me wonder what type of system the Hawks are gonna implement this year with the type of players they brought in and if the dump and chase is actually gonna be brought back.
Because one thing is sure, the run and gun pond hockey strong style isn't gonna bring alot of wins