Tyson Barrie-Nikita Zadorov Pairing: Predictions
Feb 3, 2015; Dallas, TX, USA; Colorado Avalanche defenseman Tyson Barrie (4) skates against the Dallas Stars during the third period at the American Airlines Center. Barrie scores the game tying goal. The Avalanche defeat the Stars 3-2 in the overtime shootout. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports
The Colorado Avalanche acquired two new defensemen during the off-season. Francois Beauchemin was one of them. Nikita Zadorov was the other.
Nikita Zadorov is the lesser-known of the two, not least of which is because he’s so young (just 20 years old.) He also has a limited resume, having played just 67 games, and all of them with the notoriously bad Buffalo Sabres.
Nonetheless, Avalanche executives acquired him as part of the Ryan O’Reilly trade, which alone suggests a certain level of confidence. Likewise, Colorado GM Joe Sakic remarked that they intended for Zadorov to be part of the team’s blue line “for the next 10 years.”
Nikita Zadorov, by the way, is the biggest blue liner at 6-foot-5, 220 pounds, and is second only to enforcer Patrick Bordeleau on the whole team for size.
On the other end of the spectrum size-wise we have Tyson Barrie, the smallest defenseman and second only to Joey Hishon for most diminutive on the team. Barrie is Zadorov’s proposed d-partner.
Besides the obvious size differential, there are a lot of differences between the two players. Whether these differences clash or complement remains to be seen. Let’s look a little closer at this polemic defensive pairing.
Next: Barrie
Tyson Barrie
Oct 16, 2014; Ottawa, Ontario, CAN; Ottawa Senators defenseman Erik Karlsson (65) blocks a pass from Colorado Avalanche defenseman Tyson Barrie (4) on a breakaway during the first period at the Canadian Tire Centre. Mandatory Credit: Marc DesRosiers-USA TODAY Sports
2014-15 Stats:
| GP | G | A | P | PIM | +/- |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 80 | 12 | 41 | 53 | 26 | 5 |
Last Season:
The refrain may be getting a little old, but Tyson Barrie started off just as slowly as most of the other Avalanche. He was in the minus category pretty consistently through October. And he continued to bounce between plus and minus throughout the season.
However, Barrie is an offensive wizard, and that started to take the forefront of his season. He started his multi-point nights with Vancouver in October, and he had several more throughout the season. By the conclusion of the season, he was the fourth-ever Avalanche defenseman to earn 50+ points.
Tyson Barrie is never going to be accused of being a physical player. It’s not just that he doesn’t have the size, grit just isn’t a part of his style. He hit and blocked shots, but nowhere near as much as other Avalanche defensemen. That said, his defensive play has gotten better through the years:
Questions for the Upcoming Season:
Tyson Barrie seems to be answering this question already, but can he continue being an offensive dynamo? He’s the Colorado Avalanche’s clutch player, the skater you want to see on the ice if the team’s down by one or even two at the end of the third period. That said, can Barrie elevate his play to the level of a John Michale Liles or even Erik Karlsson?
The other big question is how he’s going to function with his new defensive partner.
Predictions:
I don’t think Tyson Barrie’s offensive production is going to slow down. I don’t see any reason he can’t have another 50+ point season and continue to be Mr. Clutch.
However, I suspect his defense might suffer, not least because of his young partner. (Barrie himself is only 24 and entering his third full NHL season — hardly veteran material.) While his plus-minus ratio is good, and his Corsi-for is good, his turnover ratio is not (-7). I suspect that’s going to continue to be a problem.
Next: Zadorov
Nikita Zadorov
Dec 20, 2014; Buffalo, NY, USA; Buffalo Sabres defenseman Nikita Zadorov (51) looks to make a pass during the third period against the Colorado Avalanche at First Niagara Center. Colorado beats Buffalo 5 to 1. Mandatory Credit: Timothy T. Ludwig-USA TODAY Sports
2014-15 Stats:
| GP | G | A | P | PIM | +/- |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 60 | 3 | 12 | 15 | 51 | -10 |
Last Season:
The Buffalo Sabres did a terrible job of managing Nikita Zadorov’s development. According to Jacob D. Strozyk of Sabre Noise, they put him forth as a rotational third pairing defenseman. He struggled to make the lineup, but made a difference every time he played.
Zadorov spent the majority of his season paired with Andrej Meszaros or Rasmus Ristolainen. Contain your excitement. (I’m not going to say these players make Nate Guenin and Brad Stuart look good… or maybe I am.)
The lowlights of Zadorov’s season came in a couple disciplanary actions the team took against him. He was unable to get a flight back from his All Star Break vacation in the Dominican Republic, so he missed a team practice. The Buffalo Sabres suspended. The team suspended him again later in the year when he overslept his alarm clock and showed up late to a team meeting.
Questions for the Upcoming Season:
Can Nikita Zadorov show up to Avalanche practices and meetings? I jest — the Colorado Avalanche have a much better system in place for young players’ development.
No, the questions about Nikita Zadorov are more about what his youth is going to look like on the ice. Defensemen typically take longer to develop, and many don’t hit their stride until their mid-20s. Zadorov is a young 20 years old.
The other big question is how he’s going to be a partner to Tyson Barrie. Barrie roams to pinch into the play. Is Zadorov going to maintain his positioning well enough to seal up the gap left by a roving Barrie?
Predictions:
I want to see Nikita Zadorov stay paired with Tyson Barrie. I just don’t know if he will. I suspect he may bounce back and forth to the third pairing while Nate Guenin takes over some second-pairing duty.
Next: Overall
Overall Predictions
The Tyson Barrie-Nikita Zadorov pairing is the big iffy for me. It could go spectacularly well, or it could fail just as spectacularly.
It’s possible Zadorov’s size and physicality can complement Barrie’s speed and offense. It’s possible Zadorov could be an upgrade on the anchor Nate Guenin has been providing Barrie. It could be that Nikita Zadorov will even use his size and physicality to open up some space for Tyson Barrie to rove.
It’s just as possible that Zadorov and Barrie will both end up out of position. They could spend the majority of their shifts chasing each other and the puck back into their own zone. If that happens, I see head coach Patrick Roy doing what he did for Erik Johnson last year — giving him back his old d-partner.
Like I said, though, I hope we get a chance to see the Barrie-Zadorov pairing pan out.
What do you think of this pairing’s chances to stay together, Avs Nation?
Next: Predictions for the Duchene Line
Next: Predictions for the Soderberg Line
Next: Predictions for the Mitchell Line
Next: Predictions for the Johnson-Beauchemin Pairing
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