BSN Exclusive: Key Avalanche defenseman has shoulder surgery, sidelined four months

If it had happened in the regular season, it would have been devastating news:

Nikita Zadorov, who had a good season for the Avalanche, especially in the second half and into the playoffs, will need four months of recovery time after having surgery on a shoulder, BSN Denver has learned.

If that timetable doesn’t change, Zadorov should be ready to go to start Avalanche training camp in September. But, it could be a close call.

Usually, recovery times that long for shoulder injuries mean he suffered a dislocation and not a separated shoulder, although it is not known exactly what type of injury Zadorov had.

When Zadorov suffered the injury remains unknown as well, although there were a couple of times in the playoffs against Nashville where he came off the ice looking in pain. He played every game in the six-game series, however, and is known for a high pain tolerance.

Zadorov, who established career highs in goals (seven), points (20) and plus-minus (+4) in 2017-18, probably would have played for Russia at the upcoming World Championships had it not been for the surgery.