The Colorado Avalanche lost a forward for the second time in as many days. On Tuesday, the Avs dealt Ross Colton to the Nashville Predators for picks.
On Wednesday, reports surfaced that depth center Zakhar Bardakov will be leaving North America and heading back to the NHL, Elite Prospects showed.
The 25-year-old Russian forward will be heading back to SKA St. Petersburg after one year in the NHL with the Avalanche. Bardakov appeared in 60 games, scoring one goal and adding nine assists.
The plan was for the former seventh-round pick of the New Jersey Devils to play a more prominent role in the bottom six. He had won the fourth-line center role out of training camp last fall. However, Bardakov just couldn’t quite stick in the role. Jack Drury eventually took over full-time when Nazem Kadri rejoined the organization.
Colorado acquired Bardakov at the 2024 NHL trade deadline in a deal with the Devils. The trade sent enforcer Kurtis MacDermid to New Jersey, with Bardakov’s rights coming back. The Avs signed Bardakov to a one-year, $867K entry-level contract.
However, as an RFA this summer, it seems that the best path forward will be to return home to find more playing time. Bardakov scored 17 goals and 35 points in 53 games with St. Petersburg during the 2024-25 season.
Writing was on the wall for Bardakov as an Avalanche
The writing was on the wall for Bardakov in Colorado. Drury will likely remain with the club, while top NCAA prospect TJ Hughes will also get a shot at making the team this fall.
That situation put Bardakov in a tough spot. He would have likely been squeezed out of the lineup, most assuredly landing with the Eagles in the AHL.
There could have been an opportunity for Bardakov to earn a spot as a fourth-line winger or stick around as the 13th forward. Unfortunately, he would have had to compete with Hughes, Gavin Brindley, and, hopefully, Joel Kiviranta. So, what would have been three forwards for two bottom-six lineup spots. As such, the odds weren’t exactly in Bardakov’s favor.
It’s worth noting that the Avalanche retain Bardakov’s rights indefinitely due to the transfer agreement under which he transitioned from the KHL to the NHL. So, if Bardakov should ever want to return to North America, it would have to be with Colorado. That is, unless the Avs trade his rights to another club.
That’s something worth keeping an eye out for, especially with the way things have unfolded this summer.
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