Snapshots: Zadorov, Duchene, Somerby

While there has been some speculation that Avalanche defenseman Nikita Zadorov might consider signing in the KHL for next season, BSN Denver’s Adrian Dater reports that progress has been made on a deal that would keep the blueliner with Colorado.  Dater adds that Zadorov’s asking price on a shorter-term bridge contract is between $2.75MM – $3MM while the Avs have come in closer to the $2MM range.

The 22-year-old averaged a career high 19:02 per game last season but, like many others with the Avalanche, struggled at times in his own end.  Still, while his offensive game hasn’t amounted to much yet, his combination of size and physicality continues to make Zadorov an intriguing project as Colorado continues their rebuild.

Other notes from around the league:

• The Penguins have been a team that has been surprisingly linked to Avalanche center Matt Duchene this summer. Jason Mackey of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette notes that Colorado was seeking defenseman Olli Maatta as well as prospect winger Daniel Sprong and a first round pick in order to part with Duchene, a price that GM Jim Rutherford hasn’t been willing to pay just yet.  While Pittsburgh has a vacancy at their third line center spot, it would be hard to imagine they’d use Duchene in that role if they were able to land him.  Instead, it would likely make more sense to use him on the left wing.
• Add Islanders defensive prospect Doyle Somerby to the list of college prospects that intend to test the open market past August 15th. His agent, Brent Peterson, told Fluto Shinzawa of the Boston Globe that there could be as many as five other teams could be interested in Somerby’s services.  The 23-year-old stay-at-home rearguard has spent the past four years at Boston University and captained the team in his senior season.  Peterson didn’t rule out the possibility of Somerby, ultimately signing with the Isles (who drafted him in the fifth round in 2012) but given how close he is to becoming an unrestricted free agent, the blueliner has decided to see what other opportunities may be out there as well.