Something big is happening on the Bruins blue line this season: Nikita Zadorov

There was by no means a consensus among the Bruins regulars who sat on the bench with Zadorov or who took a devastating blow from the 6-foot-2 defender.

“Presence,” said Elias Lindholm, who was Zadorov’s teammate in Calgary and Vancouver.

“Brutal,” Morgan Geekie added.

“Huge,” agreed Trent Frederic, who broke up with Zadorov in February 2023.

“Scary,” declared an anonymous Bruin. “This guy is (expletive) scary.”

Zadorov’s reputation precedes him after 11 seasons in the NHL. Given his imposing frame and penchant for dishing out penalties, the 29-year-old defenseman is considered one of the most intimidating skaters in the NHL.

“I enjoy hockey overall,” Zadorov said. “It’s obviously physical. It’s a little easier for a guy my size to be physical and try to finish plays, intimidate players, annoy them and so on. It’s my role and I accept it.”

Zadorov’s willingness to be a battering ram was one of the reasons the Bruins handed him a six-year, $30 million contract on the first day of free agency in July. But that is far from the only reason.

“He’s big. He’s mean. He’s angry,” Charlie McAvoy said. “He has skill. It has everything I think you need. You have to know when he’s on the ice. I think that’s someone you definitely want on your team.”

Zadorov may not be a player who defies opposing coaches’ game plans in the same way offensive stars like David Pastrnak and Connor McDavid do. But the looming fear of facing Zadorov on the ice is shared in many locker rooms.

“He was a guy we talked about quite a bit before our game,” Bruins forward Tyler Johnson said. “Just like, ‘Hey, you gotta watch this guy.’ He will beat you.’

“Sometimes you get in the middle and you think there’s no one on you, and then he comes in and tries to blow you up.”

Zadorov scored more than 175 goals in six of his 11 NHL seasons, including 278 with the Avalanche in 2017-18.

In the attrition of the Stanley Cup Playoffs, it’s an advantage to have a player who can soften opposing puck carriers and police the middle of the ice.

“Every now and then, whether I’m scrolling on Instagram or whatever, I just see highlights of him and his big hits,” Coyle said. “So much has happened lately.”

Images of Zadorov launching opponents into the stratosphere, smashing them into the glass and trading right hooks with players like Pat Maroon are what come to mind when chronicling the D-Man’s impact.

But in his battles with Zadorov, Geekie remembers the scraps and bumps across the boards with the same trepidation as he would a hit on open ice.

“He’s not afraid to play on that boundary a little bit,” Geekie said. “Every time I went on the ice it felt like I was competing against him. It just wasn’t fun. His stick is heavy and he is a big boy. Every time you go out there you get into a fight.”

“He’s big, he’s mean, he doesn’t care,” Brad Marchand said. “He’s a predator out there. I absolutely loved playing against him and I hated it.”

If there was one thing everyone could agree on in the Bruins locker room, it was that Zadorov’s unique skill set was defined by one particular highlight.

“I think I remember him blowing a guy up — and taking the puck, going all the way down and scoring,” Brandon Carlo said.

“He has a really good shot,” Lindholm said. “What comes to mind is probably the playoffs there in (Vancouver) where he scored a couple there when he was breaking down the wall.”

Zadorov’s strength may lie in his physical game, but he is far from a black hole in the offensive zone. While most big-bodied defenders are considered stay-at-home types, Zadorov can provide some offense.

“I’m not Cale Makar – a super high IQ and a highly skilled offensive defender,” Zadorov noted. “But I know my strengths and can also contribute offensively.”

Zadorov has four 20-point seasons in his career, including 2022-23 when he scored a career-best 14 goals with the Flames. He scored four goals and eight points in 13 playoff games with Vancouver last spring, averaging 20:09 of ice time.

On a team that already has talented game-winning defenders in McAvoy and Mason Lohrei, Zadorov doesn’t need to be the primary offensive facilitator on defense.

“I think he will surprise you with his ability to make plays,” Bruins coach Jim Montgomery said. “I’m not just saying that you score goals, but that you play on the offensive blue line. His hockey sense and brain are very good. It’s a lot better than people give it credit for.”

Zadorov’s mobility may be his most undervalued asset.

“Big guys who are heavy usually don’t move that well,” Lindholm said. “So he’s definitely underrated in that respect because people probably think you can beat him long or beat him one-on-one. But he’s doing really well out there.”

Zadorov’s skating skills can also help limit the taxing D-zone reps for his defensive partner.

“I think people see greatness and only think one thing, right?” said Frederic. “I feel like fighting gets to me sometimes. If you fight a lot, you’re an idiot. I know he has that physical element and the size and everything, but he brings a lot of skill.”

Zadorov’s ability to break the puck out with a clean first pass or move it into the neutral zone should make life easier for his teammates. But make no mistake, he’ll feel best when he’s giving everyone a hard time who isn’t bundled up in a black and gold sweater.

“My physical performance will not disappear,” said Zadorov. “That’s why I’m in the league. That’s why people pay me money. That’s why they signed me. That’s my goal.”

This disposition should make him a fan favorite at Causeway Street.

“I’m just excited to go out there and see if they like me or not,” Zadorov said.

There may not be a single word to sum up Zadorov’s game. But it won’t take long to agree on his reception in Boston – especially after he delivers another bone-shaking shot on TD Garden ice.

Conor Ryan can be reached at [email protected].