NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Young Avalanche defenseman Nikita Zadorov will play big minutes paired with Francois Beauchemin on Monday night against the Predators and fellow youngster Chris Bigras will do the same with partner Erik Johnson.
Bigras celebrated his 21st birthday last month and Zadorov will turn 21 next month.
Colorado coach Patrick Roy wants the veterans to oversee the youngsters.
“We think it’s time for us to give more responsibility to Bigras, because he’s been playing very well for us and we’re very happy with his game,” Roy said after Monday’s morning skate at Bridgestone Arena. “It also gives good responsibility for ‘Beauch’ and EJ. I told them that in ’86 when started my first year (in Montreal) we had like seven rookies and we had the big brothers help us, which they did a lot. I told them they can play the same role.”
Bigras was previously on the third pairing and Zadorov was in the minors. Zadorov was recalled Sunday, along with forward Andrew Agozzino, and met the Avs here in Nashville.
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Zadorov — believed to be a franchise defenseman in the making — began the season in the NHL and seems destined to finish it here. He has played 16 games with Colorado and 52 with San Antonio of the American Hockey League.
“It is what it is,” Zadorov said Monday. “It’s been ups and downs but good learning. I think I’ve learned a lot from it.”
Nick Holden and Tyson Barrie remain as Colorado’s other defensive pairing, but they likely won’t play as much as they’re accustomed. Zach Redmond and Andrew Bodnarchuk will be healthy scratches.
Agozzino replaces Mikko Rantanen on the fourth line; Rantanen was sent to San Antonio after Saturday’s 4-0 loss to Minnesota.
Losing to the Wild put Colorado’s playoff hopes on life support, but Roy knows his team can avoid elimination by sweeping the back-to-back trip that concludes Tuesday in St. Louis. In December, the Avs swept the Nashville Predators and St. Louis Blues on consecutive-night road games.
“It kind of put us back in the hunt by winning those two games,” Roy said. “I hope to reproduce that again and you never know what can happen after that.”
The Avs, who trail the Wild by five points with just seven remaining games, will continue to play without centers Matt Duchene and Nathan MacKinnon. Both are out with knee injuries. Roy said Duchene skated on his own Sunday but MacKinnon has not returned to the ice.
Footnotes. Roy said he’s “leaning towards” playing goalie Semyon Varlamov in both games. Center Carl Soderberg is the Avalanche’s Professional Hockey Writers’ Association Colorado chapter winner and national nominee for the Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy Award, presented annually to the NHL player who best exemplifies the qualities of perseverance, sportsmanship and dedication to ice hockey. Tied as Colorado’s fourth-leading scorer with 47 points, one behind his career high, Soderberg has been the team’s most consistent center and plays in every situation. He is legally blind in one eye, from taking a stick to the eye during a game in Sweden at age 22. Soderberg was forced to re-learn how to play hockey with one eye and didn’t make his NHL debut until age 27.
Mike Chambers: mchambers@denverpost.com or @mikechambers
