Colorado Avalanche defenseman Nikita Zadorov hasn’t exactly impressed this season, and his lack of productiveness is starting to worry. Tom looks at the uncertain future of Big Z in Colorado. [Mile High Hockey]
Through 18 games this season, Zadorov is averaging only 15:12 minutes a game - the lowest average of his career and nearly four minutes fewer than a season ago. A lot of it has to do with being replaced by Ian Cole on the team’s top penalty kill unit, but Zadorov’s even strength TOI is down as well - his 13:10 EV minutes a game is last among the six defenders that are regularly in the Avalanche lineup.