Avs will look to two hulking defensemen to step up on penalty kill

Things are going to look a little different for the Avs on the penalty kill, at least to start the year.

With Ian Cole missing the start of the season due to offseason double hip surgery, and Patrik Nemeth off to Detroit in free agency, the Avs will be without their two leading defenders in shorthanded time on ice per game last season. The Avs will need some of the youngsters to step up and help out Erik Johnson.

Nikita Zadorov is one of those guys ready to play a little bit more. After averaging 1:41 per game of shorthanded time last season, he’s been regularly practicing with Erik Johnson on the first penalty kill unit and should see his ice time while killing penalties go up, at least until Cole comes back. He’s ready for the opportunity.

“I’m ready for any challenge,” the big 24-year-old told DNVR after practice on Tuesday. “I know we had a bad stretch last year a little bit (on the penalty kill), but then we switched the system and it’s working so far.”

The 6’5″ Russian is now entering his fifth season in Colorado and thinks that added experience plays a role in improving how you play on the penalty kill.

“It’s experience, for sure,” he said when asked what makes a good penalty killer. “The more you’re on and the more you know how guys play, and what their setup is. You have to be willing to put your body on the line for the team. Great positioning is a big part of it as well.”

Zadorov isn’t the only 6’5″ defenseman expected to play a bigger role on the penalty kill. In what was a bit of foreshadowing in terms of how the roster moves would play out, Head Coach Jared Bednar was quick to answer who else he expects to step into that role.

“Ryan Graves is the first guy that comes to mind for me,” Bednar was quick to respond with when asked who will take penalty killing minutes. “He’s got a great willingness to block shots and get himself in the right position to make defensive plays. I see him a lot like Nemeth was for us last year.”

The Avs will look to improve upon their 25th ranked penalty kill from last season.

News and Notes from Practice

• Just an hour after Bednar spoke to the media, the Avs announced their final cuts, sending Kevin Connauton, Jayson Megna, and Calle Rosen to the Colorado Eagles and finalizing their 23-man roster.
• Those roster moves meant that Conor Timmins, coming off missing an entire season due to a concussion, has made the opening night roster and will likely play when the season starts on Thursday against the Flames. Given the way Bednar talked about Ryan Graves filling a role on the penalty kill, you can anticipate Graves and Timmins fill out the rest of the Avs blueline with Zadorov, Johnson, Cale Makar and Samuel Girard.
• Timmins making the team means the Avs will have three left shots, and three right shots on their blueline, something every NHL coach dreams of.
• The Avs will now carry 14 forwards and seven defensemen heading into the season. The lines in practice on Tuesday did not change from Monday, so it would appear Vladislav Kamenev and veteran Colin Wilson may be on the outside looking in when the team hits the ice Thursday, but nothing has been finalized.
• Cale Makar missed practice on Tuesday, but Bednar stated it was just a maintenance day and would expect him back at practice on Wednesday. All Avs fans can breathe a sigh of relief with that news.
• Joe Sakic will speak to the media on Wednesday during the Avs final practice before opening the season against the Calgary Flames on Thursday evening.