Nikita Zadorov not starting training camp with Avalanche
Sergei Belski / USA Today Sports
The Colorado Avalanche are without a key piece of the roster as training camp opens Thursday.
Restricted free agent Nikita Zadorov is not in attendance as the defenseman remains without a new contract.
Nikita Zadorov is not here, not on preseason roster #Avs
— Mike Chambers (@MikeChambers) September 14, 2017
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Acquired from Buffalo as part of the Ryan O'Reilly trade, the 16th pick from the 2013 NHL Draft is seen as a big building block for last season's last-place team.
The 22-year-old appeared in 56 games for the Avalanche in 2016-17, recording 10 assists.