When a player is said to be in the middle of a renaissance, it implies his play had slipped previously. As tempting as it might be for some to apply that label to Avalanche veteran Milan Hejduk, he’s really just been doing lately what he’s always done.
Hejduk is well on his way to an 11th straight 20-goal season, a remarkable run of consistency for the 34-year-old right winger. He scored his sixth and seventh goals of the season in Saturday’s 4-3 Avs shootout win in Dallas.
What has been a bit different about Hejduk’s season so far is the higher ratio of assists compared with previous career totals. In 56 games last season, Hejduk posted 21 assists. But he already has 15 so far in 20 games.
“At my age, I’ll take the points any way I can get them,” Hejduk said.
Hejduk still has one of the fastest, most agile sets of hands in the NHL, the kind that helped him win the Rocket Richard Trophy with 50 goals in 2002-03. He doesn’t have the blazing speed of his younger years; a knee injury has plagued him over the last few. But he’s not slow either.
Hejduk signed a one-year, $3 million contract last summer and can be an unrestricted free agent in July. Don’t expect Hejduk to go anywhere, however. He wants to finish his career in Colorado, and though he said he takes his career one year at a time now and doesn’t know for sure if he’ll play next season, he indicated he would be open to another contract with the Avs.
“If both sides are willing,” said Hejduk, who turns 35 in February.
Shattenkirk shining.
Avs rookie defenseman Kevin Shattenkirk is turning heads among NHL watchers with his strong play of late. Avs youngster Matt Duchene knew right away the former Boston University player had potential.
“I remember our first minicamp, two summers ago. He was here and I said, ‘Wow, this kid can play,’ ” Duchene said. “I remember being excited for him to finish college and get here, and he’s really showing what he can do.”
Shattenkirk, with two goals and five points in nine games, played nearly 25 minutes in the win Saturday.
Footnotes.
Hejduk and Avalanche captain Adam Foote will visit the Urban Peak homeless shelter today from 2-3 p.m. They will prepare food for residents of the shelter, primarily teenagers. . . . Forward Brandon Yip has seen his ice time diminish of late. Yip played only 8:18 in Saturday’s game and has been skating often on the fourth line with Philippe Dupuis and Cody McLeod.
Adrian Dater: 303-954-1360 or adater@denverpost.com
