Bruins defenseman Nikita Zadorov, given time to reflect, regrets comments made about teammate Jeremy Swayman
'Is that what that was? I don't know,' said Zadorov. 'No comment.'
Upon reflection, Zadorov walked those sentiments back following practice at the Honda Center Tuesday afternoon.
'After a 7-2 loss, the players are frustrated. So obviously the time I was frustrated and whatever I said it wasn't towards Sway,' the defenseman said. 'It was just I didn't expect that question and sometimes you've got to understand the situation we are at and everything. You're [ticked after] the game.'
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Zadorov's postgame words were odd at the time because he's been one of several Bruins who have dropped the gloves to protect and/or stand up for teammates.
'Obviously we appreciate in this room guys stepping in for each other, and that's a culture that was here before I came here and I'm trying to follow it as a guy who stepped in for teammates,' said Zadorov. 'We've got [Jakub Lauko, Pavel Zacha], we've got everybody, Swayman . . . We're going to step up for each other and that's the main part for us. So, I think it wasn't even thinking coming towards Sway or anything like this.'
Zadorov said he called Swayman after he made the comments to clear the air and prevent any misinterpretations.
'Obviously he's a huge part of our team. He signed for the next eight years and I'm here for five years, the next five years,' said Zadorov. 'So, we're going to be together for a long time and [there's] going to be a lot of success with this team and back in the playoff hockey and hopefully win the [Stanley] Cup in here.'
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Incidentally, Zadorov flew back to Boston Wednesday to tend to a family matter and coach Joe Sacco said he was unsure when the defenseman would rejoin the team.
***
It was a bit of a homecoming for Sacco, who played four-plus seasons in Anaheim for the expansion franchise that was known then as the Mighty Ducks.
'The good thing about coming here that first year, it was an opportunity for myself and all the other guys that were on the team to establish themselves as full-time NHL players,' said Sacco, who collected 62 goals and 130 points in 333 games with Anaheim. 'We were all let go by teams or left unclaimed by teams for that expansion draft that summer. So, the guys that got picked up there, we felt like we had something to prove to ourselves and to the teams that let us go. We had a great room that year. It was a lot of fun.'
Sacco has the distinction of attempting the first penalty shot in franchise history, Nov. 12, 1997, against the Canadiens.
'Did I score?' Sacco asked following the club's morning skate.
Informed that he did, Sacco smiled and said, 'All right, so that's a good sign. I think it was Jocelyn Thibault, who was the goalie back then. So, I didn't score many, but I scored on that one.'
***
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