NHL Draft 2013: Nikita Zadorov Prospect Profile

June 22, 2012; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; General view of the stage and draft board order prior to the 2012 NHL Draft at CONSOL Energy Center. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports

With the 2013 NHL Draft only being four days away, the Phoenix Coyotes have the 12th pick and will be looking to make the team better as they want to get back into the playoffs next season. A player that the Coyotes could select with the 12th pick is defenseman Nikita Zadorov.

Zadorov played in the OHL with the London Knights this season. In Mike G. Morreale’s 2013 final mock draft on NHL.com, he has the Coyotes selecting the defenseman. He says that the Coyotes could use a physical defenseman because they don’t have many. Zadorov is a big defenseman coming in at 6-foot-5 and 221 pounds. He continues to say that Nikita Zadorov is a great skater and strong.

This season as a rookie with the London Knights, he had six goals, 25 points in 63 regular season games. In the playoffs this season, he had two goals, four assists, and 36 penalty minutes in 20 games. Could we see Zadorov being with the Coyotes at the beginning of the season? Maybe but I would not be surprised if he stays in the OHL for another year and then comes and plays in the Phoenix Coyotes system.

Stay tuned as for the rest of week here at Heat Waved as we will have more 2013 NHL Draft coverage.

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