For the second consecutive season, the Colorado Avalanche used the opening of free agency to make a blockbuster trade. Once again tapping into their depth of defensemen, the Avs dealt Nikita Zadorov to the Chicago Blackhawks in exchange for Brandon Saad. The entire deal works out as: Colorado receives: Brandon Saad, Dennis Gilbert Chicago receives: Nikita Zadorov, Anton Lindholm, $1M...

There is no player on the Avs more frustrating to both fans and the coaching staff than Nikita Zadorov. Some nights, he looks like he can be a top-pairing defenseman capable of shutting down elite players in the NHL. Other nights, you wonder if the organization really doesn’t have six other defensemen they could be playing over him. The other...

“Goaltending is voodoo.” In the controlled chaos that is hockey, there is one guy whose job it is to make sense of it all, sift through the madness and decipher the future before it happens and react accordingly. Every game is different, every period has its own personality, and the puck is shaped in such a way that it bounces...

The three least rusty Avs from their loss to the Philadelphia Flyers. https://youtu.be/X9mc1ObB3do

This time on The Tape we are diving into Nikita Zadorov’s bare-bones approach to defense this season. 1. Physicality. Hitting always has and always will be a key part of Zadorov’s game but it doesn’t have to be a bone-rattling open-ice hit. His six-foot-six, 235-pound frame is a massive advantage, literally. When he goes into the corner with a smaller...

The never-ending injuries cannot stop the seemingly undead Avs. https://youtu.be/XBFfxKNr34s

The three best Avs from their injury-riddled, defense-first win over the Boston Bruins. https://youtu.be/C7yloJn6Vn0

Colorado sports fans are no strangers to having certain defensive players eliminate one star player from the other team and make them a non-factor.

Broncos fans knew for almost a decade that they could throw Champ Bailey out against the other teams best receiver and never have to worry about it.

For years, Avs fans got to watch Adam Foote make life miserable for the best player on the opposing team.

Now, it's time for the Avs to unleash Nikita Zadorov in a similar role.

The three best Avs players from the Avs blown lead loss to the Florida Panthers. https://youtu.be/7VTLFPdGX4M

The news could have been worse. Much worse.

Jared Bednar announced on Wednesday afternoon that Mikko Rantanen will be "week to week" with a lower body injury. While that's not the news any Avs fan wanted to hear, there did seem to be a sense of optimism around the Avs that it's not as bad as they originally may have feared.

The three best players from the Avs six-goal win against the Washington Capitals. https://youtu.be/0l257B-MFTk

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...

This week’s episode of Film Rundown looks at the impact Zadorov has by controlling space on the ice, particularly around the blue line. https://youtu.be/xhaCHZ3SDos...

With the bulk of their external additions completed, the Avalanche looked inward and signed one of their own on Friday afternoon with Nikita Zadorov being re-signed for one year. The deal is worth $3.2 million. Zadorov, 24, appeared in 70 games for the Avalanche last season. He scored 14 points (7g, 7a) in what was another wildly inconsistent season for...

SAN JOSE, Calif. – On March 15, the Avalanche lost to the Anaheim Ducks 5-3 at home, and Nikita Zadorov said how the Avs “didn’t deserve it right now” when asked about the playoffs. The Avs looked lifeless, with nothing left but to play out the string on a season gone awry. Saturday morning at the SAP Center here in...

In this installment of the “Avalanche Weekly Breakdown”, presented by Piper Electric, Adrian Dater and Allie Monroy discuss the tough news today about Gabe Landeskog and what that means moving forward. Also up for discussion: Sizing up some of the roster moves of late and one good piece of medical news from Friday. https://youtu.be/9NSYgs9OW6k

Avalanche fans held their breath through the night after I reported Mikko Rantanen had gone for x-rays after the game and head coach Jared Bednar provided no update. This morning’s practice brought clarity on that front as Rantanen was described as “fine” by Bednar and will play tomorrow night in Dallas. Nikita Zadorov, however, is not in the same boat...

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The question got about this far out of my mouth. Me, to Nikita Zadorov: “So, Z, do you think the trade deadline could put some… Zadorov, to me, cutting me off: “I don’t even want to talk about it. I like the group. I don’t want anyone to be gone. I don’t want to have anyone else in here.” Me, to Z: “You don’t want to be gone, do you?” Z, to me: “No. Not a chance. We’re all happy here and we want to keep the group. If we can just play well, no one’s gonna be gone, so that’s the mindset.” Trade rumors are the slime that creeps ever-so-stealthily into losing team dressing rooms this time of…

Joe Sakic said it Tuesday night: He’s been talking with fellow NHL general managers for “three, four weeks now” about potential trades to better his sputtering Colorado Avalanche hockey club. Off limits, however, are any of his top prospects and/or upcoming “high draft picks.” There are 19 days until the trade deadline. Here are my thoughts on who is the...