Nikita Zadorov is single-handedly bringing back the Big Bad Bruins moniker. As the Boston Bruins enter their game against the Ottawa Senators on Thursday night with a seven-game winning streak, it has been the under-appreciated play of Zadorov that has been one of the main driving forces. The massive defenseman might not wow you with his offensive talent, but he strikes fear in the hearts of opposing teams in other ways.
Zadorov has been a physical force for his entire Bruins tenure. Still, something flipped at some point last season, where he went from a loose cannon leading the league in minor penalties to a more controlled aggression that is a positive more than a negative.