Mike Chambers of the Denver Post: (mailbag) Starting to think that Matt Duchene will start the year with the Avalanche. The Avs only have three defensemen signed right now and Duchene could land them a top-four defenseman. Contract talks with Nikita Zadorov are ongoing.
[Chambers] thinks that Will Butcher won’t be signing with the Avalanche and will become an unrestricted free agent next month.
[Chambers] hasn’t been able to confirm if Zadorov has an agreement in place with a KHL team. Zadorov would like to sign a two-year bridge contract with the Avalanche.