Flames' Zadorov requests trade after loss to Maple Leafs

Calgary Flames defenceman Nikita Zadorov has requested a trade immediately after the team's loss to the Toronto Maple Leafs, as indicated by his agent Dan Milstein on Friday night.

Sportsnet can confirm the defenceman has requested a trade after the news was first reported by ESPN's Kevin Weekes.

Following the Flames' 5-6 overtime loss, Milstein took to X (the app formerly known as Twitter) saying, 'Here comes (the) Zadorov train... get your #LeafsForever tickets today...'

Additionally, when asked by a user if Zadorov could stay in Calgary, Milstein replied, 'I don't think so. Not when the best D barely gets ice time...'

Zadorov, 28, is set to become an unrestricted free agent after this season and is on the books for $3.75 million.

Sources have indicated to Sportsnet that the Maple Leafs and Vancouver Canucks are two teams expected to show interest in the defenceman's services. Zadorov doesn't have a no-trade list and joined the Flames while current Maple Leafs GM Brad Treliving was in charge.

Despite the solid performance against the Maple Leafs, Zadorov was held to only 15:33 minutes of ice time, the second-least of the Flames' defencemen.

The Flames are in the middle of a tumultuous year and sit at 4-7-2, good for sixth place in the Pacific Division.

Along with Zadorov, Elias Lindholm, Chris Tanev and Noah Hanifin among others are set to become unrestricted free agents at the end of the season, positioning the Flames toward a potential rebuild.

Zadorov scored his first goal of the season in the 5-4 shootout loss to Toronto. He has five points on the campaign.

Last season, the defenceman scored 14 goals and tallied 21 points while finishing with a plus-10 rating.

He joined the Flames ahead of the 2021-22 season in a trade from the Chicago Blackhawks. He signed a two-year, $7.5 million contract in July 2022.