Toronto Maple Leafs: Nikita Zaitsev Compared to Bryan Berard
Bryan Berard was a speedy, offensively talented defenseman for the Toronto Maple Leafs with a lot of promise before an eye injury derailed his career. Nikita Zaitsev may not be as gifted as Berard but he has some similarities.
The Toronto Maple Leafs acquired Berard – a former first overall pick in the 1995 NHL Entry Draft – and a sixth round pick in the 1999 NHL Entry Draft (Jan Sochor) from the New York Islanders for Felix Potvin and a sixth round pick in the 1999 NHL Entry Draft (Fedor Fedorov).
The Leafs signed Zaitsev from free agency to a one year contract during the 2016 offseason.
Similarity #1: Strong Skaters
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One of Berard’s greatest skills was his skating. At times it would look like he was doing it so effortlessly, making it that much better. He was able to join the rush and still be able to get back into position. Using his speed, he was able to be an offensive threat making it seem like the team had four forwards and one defenseman on the ice at times. He was also able to quarterback a power play and could have become an elite player if not for his eye injury.
Zaitsev is very similar, his speed adds to the Leafs already fast pace team. He is able to jump up in the rushes just like Berard and still get back into position. Using his speed, he is also able to create offensive chances leading to scoring opportunities. Zaitsev was also on the PP and performed well for the Leafs. He added a dynamic to the team that they did not have before.
Similarity #2: Offensive Minded
While he was a defenseman, Berard played a very offensive game. If it was not for his injury, he could have potentially challenged Salming and Kaberle for best Leafs defenseman ever. In 1999-00 he had 30 points in 64 games before his injury. While those numbers do not stick out, this is during the dead puck era. In 2004-05, four seasons after his injury, he had 47 points in 58 games with the Chicago Blackhawks. This showed fans what he was capable of despite, what should have been, a career ending injury.
Zaitsev is comparable in this aspect. As a rookie, he posted 36 points in 82 games. Those numbers are not amazing but he is in an era where scoring is a lot tougher and he did very well for a rookie. Mike Babcock also put Zaitsev on the PP for a reason, he’s fast, can deke and has a nice shot. He’s able to read the opposing defense because of his position and thus can exploit them. This allows him to be an offensive threat in addition to be a defensive one.
Similarity #3: Disciplined
Berard may have caused an Eric Lindros like stunt by forcing the Ottawa Senators to trade him, but after that, he adopted a team first mentality. On the ice, he was disciplined. He had a career high 86 penalty minutes (PIM) in his first season in the league. After that, he was very calm and did not take many bad penalties that would hurt his team. He only registered seven career fights during a rougher NHL era.
Zaitsev is a very smart player. He knows what he is able to get away with and that shows with his PIM. Over 82 games this past season, he only had 38 PIM. While he has only played in one NHL season, he was disciplined in the KHL as well, involved in only two fights in seven seasons in the league. He helps the Leafs by staying out of the box, especially in the current era where teams are a lot more strategic with their PP.
Conclusion
Both players are strong skaters. They are able to join in the offensive rushes and still get back into their positions. Adding their offensive mind to their defensive abilities causes them to be lethal threats on both sides of the ice. They are able to control the puck on both sides of the ice. By being disciplined, they do not take many penalties which in turn, becomes very helpful to their teams. Considering all the above, while the two can be compared, one still outshines the other.
While Zaitsev is a great player, Berard is too good to pass up. On one hand, he was never the same after his injury, on the other hand, he would have been an elite player if not for the injury. I would choose Berard before his injury but Zaitsev after the injury. Overall my choice has to go to Berard.
Join me later today as we continue with the Top 10 Greatest Goalies in Leafs History.
*stats from hockeydb.com