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# Nikita Zaitsev named one of top two defencemen at 2016 IIHF World Championship
- URL: https://www.pensionplanpuppets.com/nikita-zaitsev-named-one-of-top-two-defencemen-at-2016-iihf-world/
- Published: 2016-05-22T19:35:21.000Z
- Updated: 2016-05-22T19:35:21.000Z
- Description: The Leafs saw some good performances out of their players this tournament!
- Author: Ari Yanover
- Tags: #chorus, #Import 2023-04-05 11:27

It's been a pretty great World Championship this year, hasn't it? [Morgan Rielly](http://www.sbnation.com/nhl/players/157191/morgan-rielly?ref=pensionplanpuppets.com) comes away with a gold medal, [Leo Komarov](http://www.sbnation.com/nhl/players/156612/leo-komarov?ref=pensionplanpuppets.com) with a silver, and future [Maple Leaf](http://www.sbnation.com/nhl/teams/toronto-maple-leafs?ref=pensionplanpuppets.com) Nikita Zaitsev gets a bronze - and also, the honour of being named one of the tournament's top two defencemen, as by the media.

The other tournament All-Stars were Canada's Michael Matheson, Russia's Vadim Shipachyov, and Finland's Mikko Koskinen, Patrik Laine, and [Mikael Granlund](http://www.sbnation.com/nhl/players/111525/mikael-granlund?ref=pensionplanpuppets.com).

Zaitsev scored one goal and added three assists for four points through 10 games en route to his bronze medal. His +12 goal differential was tied for the Russian lead, and his 67.8% corsi for was one of the best on the Russian squad. He averaged 15:31 a game, which was a bit on the lower side for Russian defencemen - but he was still one of their more productive blueliners.

The Leafs signed Zaitsev to a one-year contract back on May 2, and can probably look forward to him bolstering the blueline through the 2016-17 season!