ZADOROV IN CAMP
Duchene takes the ice vs. Stars
Avalanche defenseman Nikita Zadorov finally reported to training camp Thursday morning, nearly a week after signing a contract extension. The 22-year-old Russian was held up in Ottawa because of issues with his immigration papers.
“It usually takes a few days to get it,” Zadorov said at the Pepsi Center, where some of his teammates had participated in a morning skate in preparation for Thursday night’s preseason game against the Dallas Stars. “With the situation with Russia and America right now, it’s kind of tough. But it’s nice to get it done.”
Zadorov had a physical and off-ice testing, before watching the Avs score three times in the first 5:09 of the game and go on to beat Dallas 5-1. He will practice with the team Friday in split-squad sessions at the Family Sports Center.
Colorado visits the Minnesota Wild on Saturday to begin a four-game stretch in six days to wrap up the exhibition season.
“I have a few preseason games left, right? So I’m going to play some of them and hopefully get my level back right away,” said Zadorov, who had been training in Ottawa. “But I’ve been skating great. … Let’s get the season going already. I’m ready.”
Zadorov played down his opportunity to skip an NHL season to play for a Moscowbased team in the Kontinental Hockey League — a scenario that would have made him eligible to represent Russia at the Olympics in February. Zadorov tentatively had an agreement to play for CSKA Moscow.
“I told (Avs general manager) Joe (Sakic) in July we’re not planning to go to KHL, it’s not what I want, I want to play in the best league in the world,” Zadorov said. “I’m still 22 years old, so I got a few Olympics to go, right? If I miss this one, it’s not a big deal. But I’ll always respect my country. I love my country. I’m totally Russian, and for sure anytime they call me I’m ready to go.
“But in this situation my hands are tied. It’s not my decision not to go to Olympics. This is my league, that’s my team, that’s where I’m playing. If players from NHL can’t go to Olympics, it is what it is.”
Zadorov, a left-handed shot, is pegged to serve in Colorado’s top pairing with righthanded Erik Johnson.
“We’re excited. He’s been texting me every day. He wants me to be here and was happy I came today,” Zadorov said. “I’m real excited to play with him. He’s great player and we had great chemistry last year.”
Footnotes.
Center Matt Duchene, who is unhappy with team management and expecting to be traded, made his preseason debut against the Stars and wore an “A” as alternate captain. Duchene, who scored to give the Avs a 5-0 lead, politely declined to answer questions after the morning skate. … David Warsofsky, Sven Andrighetto and Sergei Boikov scored at 2:11, 4:03 and 5:09 into Thursday’s game. Alex Kerfoot made it 4-0 in the second period when he redirected a a Warsofsky shot. Goalie Semyon Varlamov played the entire game for the Avs. … Rookie forward Tyson Jost remains out with a groin injury. Defenseman Tyson Barrie is back with the team after missing some time with a slight shoulder injury. … Duchene centered rookie Alex Kerfoot and Nail Yakupov. The second line had rookie J.T. Compher between Gabe Landeskog and Sven Andrighetto. … Four defensemen fighting for opening-night roster spots — Chris Bigras, David Warsofsky, Anton Lindholm and Andrei Mironov — were in the lineup, and Warsofsky scored the Avs’ first goal.