Colorado Avalanche: 3 Habitual Line Steppers on the Team

Nikita Zadorov

2017-18 Penalty Minutes: 103 minutes, plus 32 minutes in the playoffs
Career Penalty Minutes: 243 minutes (222 games)
NHL Fights: 8 fights
DoPS Suspensions: 0

Defenseman Nikita Zadorov is definitely one of those players who dances around that line. Thus far, he’s managed to avoid being suspended by the Department of Player Safety. However, he did get suspended twice when he was still with the Buffalo Sabres.

Both times Zadorov was suspended by the Rangers was during the 2014-15 season, when he was just 19 years old. The first time came in January 2015 when he got stuck in the Dominican Republic while vacationing over the All Star Break. He didn’t report to the team on time. Buffalo suspended him for a game.

The second time came in February when the then-teenager slept through his alarm clock and was late for a team seting. The Sabres held him out for a game.

With the Colorado Avalanche, Nikita Zadorov has been known as a big hitter — when first joining the team, he stated that he likes to hit. This is my personal favorite hit, or series of hits:

I cackle every time I see it.

Concerning fights, seven of his eight NHL fights have occurred with the Colorado Avalanche. Three alone came this season — which helps account for his high penalty minutes total.

Here’s Zadorov scuffling with veteran fighter Dion Phaneuf:

Well, he held his own. Hopefully he gets better at fighting.