Former hockey coach Chicago Blackhawks Nikita Zaitsev Igor Rasko admitted he regrets that the 32-year-old defenseman never won the Stanley Cup.
Zaitsev graduated from the Wings of the Soviets school. Since the 2023/24 season he has been playing for Chicago, with whom his contract expires at the end of June. The Blackhawks failed to make the playoffs during the regular season.
— Nikita graduated in 2008. What kind of defender was he then?
“He was a player from the first pair of defenders, but at the same time he was never tall or had a broad physique. Nikita only grew up after her 18th birthday. He was always a playful kid and wasn’t afraid to make important decisions for the team. In Krylia Sovetov he was always a leader.
— Do you follow his career after graduating from “Wings”?
– Certainly. Before moving to Sibir, we spoke with him; Kvartalnov and Yushkevich have just arrived there. I would say that at that time, he was very lucky to join a team where they were developing young players. As I thought about his transfer to Siberia, that’s how it all happened, Nikita acquired many new skills there, and then, with peace of mind, he went to CSKA, where he became the leader of the Moscow club.
— After CSKA, he went to the NHL. How do you assess its performance in America?
“I think he showed himself well in the NHL. He often played in the first or second pair of defensemen, getting the majority of the playing time. It’s a shame, of course, that he never won the Stanley Cup, but Pavel Bure and Ilya Kovalchuk didn’t. didn’t raise it above their heads either (laughs). I believe that Zaitsev’s period in the NHL can be called successful. We recently caught up with him at a game and asked him about his future in Chicago. Nikita replied that he was still thinking.
— How much has Zaitsev changed compared to 2008?
“He matured, matured, became an adult and has three children in his family. You understand, he has become a real man. But his character has not changed, he is still just as calm. Nikita has never been angry. In terms of playing qualities, it is clear that he has become a more skilled defender and has started to believe in himself more. I remember that when Nikita arrived from the NHL to the Russian national team, it was clear that he arrived as a confident defender who was not afraid to take the game on himself, who made decisions on his own important in difficult situations, without fear of making mistakes. “, Rasko told .
This season, the 32-year-old defender played 38 matches for Chicago, in which he scored 7 points (2+5) with a utility indicator of -5.
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Source : MatchTV
I’m Emma Smith, a dedicated journalist and avid storyteller. I have been writing for news websites for the past 5 years, reporting on hockey news and delivering in-depth analysis of the sport. In my current role as Author at Athletistic, I write about hockey events from around the world to keep followers up-to-date with what’s happening in the sport.
