Andy Cross / The Denver Post)
DENVER — Unlike a year ago at this time, Avalanche defenseman Nikita Zadorov has friends in high places within the organization.
To begin last season, the big, hard-hitting Russian defenseman was deep in the organization's doghouse, serving as a healthy scratch for opening night in New York after reporting to training camp late, overweight and out of shape. In the ensuing month of the season, he was benched for long stretches during games — once for an entire third period — because of shoddy play the team deemed a lack of effort.