Leafs rookie Nikita Zaitsev not intimidated by Sidney Crosby or the NHL
TORONTO — Nikita Zaitsev sees no reason why he should be intimidated by the National Hockey League.
“I’m not 17-years-old so why I should be scared?” the 25-year-old defenceman from Moscow said defiantly, citing his extensive KHL and international experience.
The oldest and least heralded of Toronto’s rookie crop plays with a steely swagger that belies his limited NHL experience. For example, Zaitsev is eagerly a awaiting a rematch with Sidney Crosby despite a recent humbling at the hands of the Penguins superstar.
“He plays hard and he doesn’t really care about what other people think and that’s a good thing,” said teammate Leo Komarov.