A contract between Nikita Zadorov and the Avalanche appears "close"

There is no danger of Nikita Zadorov leaving the Avalanche for the Kontinential Hockey League, and progress has been made in reaching a new contract with the Avs, sources tell BSN Denver.

“Trust me, they will have a deal. You can count on it,” said one source familiar with the negotiations between the Russian defenseman and the Avalanche.

While a deal is not yet done, sources tell BSN Denver that any worry that Zadorov would jump to the KHL, as has been speculated in some published reports, is unwarranted. Sources told BSN Denver last week that Zadorov was seeking between $2.75 million and $3 million per year on a new contract, while the Avalanche was offering more in the range of $2 million per. The sources also indicate that, depending on the length of a new contract, the per-year dollar figures could increase. For instance, if Zadorov takes more than just a short-term “bridge deal”, he could get more per year.

The tradeoff for Zadorov, in signing, say a five-year deal or longer, is that he would be signed past the first year of his opportunity to be an unrestricted free agent in four more completed seasons. But it wouldn’t be too big a gamble, probably, as Zadorov is still just 22.

Zadorov remains in the Miami area, training daily. The Avalanche had no public comment on negotiations with Zadorov, the principal player acquired in the trade that sent Ryan O’Reilly and Jamie McGinn to the Buffalo Sabres.