After participating in Milan Hejduk’s informal jersey retirement press conference at the on Wednesday, Avalanche general manager was pulled to the side and briefly spoke off-camera about the sticky situations with center and defenseman .
Sakic said he has not spoken to Duchene over the summer but expects the 26-year-old to report for training camp Thursday morning. Duchene, who has been on the trade market most of the year, did not participate in last week’s optional captains skates or the Avalanche’s annual charity golf tournament Tuesday.
Duchene’s agent said his client is training in Toronto, but Duchene attended a wedding in Vail on Sept. 2 — three days before Avs captain led the first captains skate and said before training camp begins.
Zadorov, meanwhile, is unsigned as a restricted free agent. Sakic said the two sides are “close enough that he should be here.” Zadorov, 22, has threatened to play in the Kontinental Hockey League this season, a move that would make him eligible to represent Russia at the Olympics in February. If Zadorov chooses to sit out the NHL season, the Avalanche will continue to own his rights.
