DetDannyWilliams
10-16-2014, 06:42 PM
There are three places where Nikita Zadorov could play hockey Friday. He's not going to play in any of them.
The Sabres, who lived through the Mikhail Grigorenko saga the previous two seasons, have another dilemma regarding a junior-eligible player. The 19-year-old Zadorov will be a healthy scratch for the fifth time in Buffalo's five games Friday when Florida visits First Niagara Center. Players certainly can learn by watching, but development comes from being on the ice.
That's where the Sabres' dilemma comes. They don't think Zadorov is ready to play in the NHL, but they've said the 6-foot-5, 238-pound defenseman is too big for junior hockey. The Sabres could loan Zadorov to a team in Russia, but what if he enjoys playing overseas and decides not to return? Losing the 16th overall pick in the 2013 draft would significantly hurt the Sabres' future.
So for the moment, Zadorov gets to practice with the Sabres and play for no one.
http://sabres.buffalonews.com/2014/10/16/sabres-face-dilemma-zadorov/
The Sabres, who lived through the Mikhail Grigorenko saga the previous two seasons, have another dilemma regarding a junior-eligible player. The 19-year-old Zadorov will be a healthy scratch for the fifth time in Buffalo's five games Friday when Florida visits First Niagara Center. Players certainly can learn by watching, but development comes from being on the ice.
That's where the Sabres' dilemma comes. They don't think Zadorov is ready to play in the NHL, but they've said the 6-foot-5, 238-pound defenseman is too big for junior hockey. The Sabres could loan Zadorov to a team in Russia, but what if he enjoys playing overseas and decides not to return? Losing the 16th overall pick in the 2013 draft would significantly hurt the Sabres' future.
So for the moment, Zadorov gets to practice with the Sabres and play for no one.
http://sabres.buffalonews.com/2014/10/16/sabres-face-dilemma-zadorov/