It didn't take long for Jared Bednar to lay down the law. The Avalanche's second-year coach is scratching defenseman Nikita Zadorov for Thursday night's season opener against the New York Rangers.
Here are the GAME NOTES.
"Just based on what we've seen in training camp," Bednar told reporters after the morning skate at Madison Square Garden. "Came in a little late and has some catching up to do. We like what some of the other guys have done."
Zadorov, 22, who was a restricted free agent, signed a two-year, $4.3 million contract on Sept. 15 -- the day after veterans under contract reported for training camp -- and didn't arrive until a week later while waiting for his immigration paperwork to be completed.
"Missing camp's tough," Bednar said last week. "He's put himself behind the 8-ball a little bit here. He's got some work to do to get ready for the regular season."
Andrei Mironov, 23, who spent the past five seasons with Dynamo Moscow of the Kontinential Hockey League, will make his NHL debut while paired with Chris Bigras.
Bigras, 22, isn't a rookie because he played in 31 Avalanche games in 2015-16 (the cutoff is 25 games). The former second-round pick spent last season with San Antonio of the AHL; he was limited to 45 games because of a concussion.
Patrik Nemeth, 25, who was claimed off waivers from Dallas on Tuesday, will be paired with Tyson Barrie, 26. Mark Barberio, 27, who was claimed off waivers in February from Montreal, will be with Erik Johnson, 29.
So half the Avalanche defensemen who weren't with the team at all last season -- Bigras, Mironov and Nemeth -- will play against the Rangers.
(Four rookies are on the roster: Mironov, J.T. Compher, Alexander Kerfoot and Tyson Jost.)
"You know our D-corps is young, it's by design," Bednar said. "We're going to have young guys in every night. Is it a concern? Guys are going to prove they can get the job done. It's going to take a little time."
Johnson, now the elder statesman of the blue line, is beginning his 10th NHL season. The St. Louis Blues' first pick (No. 1 overall) in 2006, was acquired by the Avalanche on Feb. 18, 2011.
"It feels a little bit different, but I still feel young," he said. "I enjoy it. It keeps me energetic and happy to come to the rink. I love coming every day and hanging out with the kids. We have good, young kids and they all have good heads on their shoulders. They've had really good camps."
Aside from Zadorov, center Carl Soderberg will be scratched. He has three years left on his contract at $4.75 million per year.
Forward Joe Colborne, who has cleared waivers, didn't make the trip and isn't included in the game notes.
*****
Matt Duchene spoke to reporters:
"I feel good where I'm at, I put a lot of hard work into the summer," he said. "Now it's time to go out and do what I can do. The last third of the season last year ruined my year in terms of individual standpoint. It was a nightmare as a team.
"I had a good first two-thirds of the year and I want to get back to that. I was very snakebit last year, one of those things that happens in hockey. I'm a proud guy and this game has been my life for a long time. For me, I approach every summer the same, it's full throttle.
"Last year is still lingering in our minds, but at the same time we want to spit it out a bit if that makes sense. We are anxious to see what we can do and hope we have a great start tonight against the Rangers."
The lineup:
FORWARDS Sven Andrighetto -- Nathan MacKinnon -- Mikko Rantanen Alexander Kerfoot -- Matt Duchene -- Nail Yakupov Gabriel Landeskog -- J.T. Compher -- Colin Wilson Matt Nieto -- Tyson Jost -- Blake Comeau
DEFENSE Mark Barberio -- Erik Johnson Patrik Nemeth -- Tyson Barrie Andrei Mironov -- Chris Bigras
GOALIES Semyon Varlamov Jonathan Bernier