Nikita Zadorov's evolution to game-changing defenseman taking shape

The Colorado Avalanche, simply put, aren’t very good. After their sixth consecutive home loss, this time a 4-3 final against the Philadelphia Flyers, it was a frustrated locker room that seems close to running out of answers as to why their home woes are quickly ruining their season.

One of the few bright spots beginning to emerge from the rubble of this nearly lost season has been the improved play of defenseman Nikita Zadorov. The primary piece acquired from the Buffalo Sabres in the Ryan O’Reilly trade in June of 2015, Zadorov is starting to show more than just the flashes that made him such a hot commodity.

Despite the result against the Flyers, Zadorov’s fingerprints were prominently featured on some of the better work by the Avalanche as a whole. Still, the main focus was on the team’s failures once again in front of their home fans, especially their third-period mistakes, which took a 2-2 game and turned it into a 4-2 game in the first five minutes of the game’s final frame.

“We came in the third and then give up two easy goals,” Zadorov said. “It’s on us. First and second weren’t perfect, either. It was all our mistakes. They got what we gave them. We battled back and in the last minute, I feel like we should get some luck sometimes so the puck gets in 6-on-5. We need that goal but it didn’t happen. We need to regroup for Friday and just finish it up. That’s all it is. 2-2 going into the third period, we need to lock down the third period.”

The Avalanche have far too easily given away goals to opposing teams that end up being the difference in the game. Tonight’s third period was a great example of not making a team work for its success and the Colorado blue line was front and center with the mistakes, notably Francois Beauchemin getting walked by Brayden Schenn for the eventual game-winning goal.

“Everybody makes mistakes, right,” Zadorov told BSN Denver. “Some games it’s going to be like…they’re going to go in some games. The game in Toronto, we were all sharp in our zone and everything and they didn’t have too many chances. The 50 shots they had were all to the outside pretty much and today we gave it to them. We need better focus, a better mindset.”

That better focus is something Zadorov himself has struggled a great deal with throughout his fledgling career and even tonight it showed again as he took yet another penalty in the first period, his team-leading 15th minor penalty, which also puts him in a tie for sixth-most across the entire NHL. That lack of discipline is one of the biggest areas of his game holding him back from fulfilling his vast potential.

“Obviously, we have an awful record at home,” Zadorov stated. “We’ve lost what, six in a row at home? It’s not great. We need to get better, myself, too. I’m not blaming anybody but I have to be better and all (the defensemen), too.”

In the wake of losing top defenseman Erik Johnson for 6-8 weeks after he broke his leg blocking a shot, the responsibility of replacing his two-way play fell to the entire Avalanche blue line.

“We lost one of our best defenseman, obviously,” Zadorov admitted. “We all need to step up but it doesn’t matter who is in the lineup or not. We still need to go and play hard and show our best game. I know I feel a big responsibility about that. If I’m going to play top lines all the time, I just try to do my best.”

Tonight, Zadorov had a large hand in two of Colorado’s three goals and was generally all over the scoresheet as he was third (just one second behind Fedor Tyutin) among the Avalanche defensemen in even strength ice time, registering one shot on goal, one shot blocked, two shots missed and two hits.

His shot on goal turned into an assist, his second in three games and fifth of the season, as it was initially stopped by Flyers goalie Steve Mason but the rebound landed right on Matt Duchene’s stick and he buried the opportunity, briefly putting Colorado ahead 2-1 in the second period.

In the third period, Zadorov’s breakout pass to Duchene eventually ended in Colorado’s third goal, Duchene’s second. The assist and sparked breakout were signs of confidence growth in that aspect of the game from Zadorov, whose point totals have been a disappointment given his natural puck skills. Zadorov sees his recent success as more of a sign of things to come than an aberration.

“From the start of the season, I played more safely, more sharp, steady, to get the system down and get the coaches down and everything,” Zadorov explained of his evolution. “Now, game after game, I’m getting more confident with the puck and I know have the skill and I know I have the ability to be a good offensive player. I just try to do my best but it’s still not good enough. I’m not putting up many points and helping my team win but I’m trying and I’m trying to get that goal and help the team to win.”

Given Colorado’s hefty investment in the mercurial 22-year old Russian defenseman, just maybe the devastating Johnson injury will lead to something bigger and better in the long run for a franchise that has lacked a true top-flight defenseman since the days of Rob Blake.