"I'm still 22 years old. I still have a few more Olympics to go, right? So if I miss this one, it's not a big deal," said Zadorov. "I respect my country and I love my country, I'm totally Russian. Anytime they call me, I'm ready to go, but in this situation my hands are tied. It's not my decision to go to the Olympics. This is my league, this is my team, that is where I'm playing and if players from the NHL can't go to the Olympics then that is what it is."
Zadorov joined his Avalanche teammates on Thursday, meeting with the staff and going through medical and off-ice physical testing. He practiced for the first time on Friday morning.
It had been nearly a week since the big blueliner signed a two-year contract with the team last Friday, and the reason for his delay to Colorado was due to the typical wait time for one to get a work visa. Also, signing a contract just before the weekend when government offices are closed didn't help.
The Moscow, Russia, native wanted to join the Avs as soon as he could, but he also understood that it is process for him to enter the country.
"It usually takes a few days to get it," he said. "There isn't too much magic to get it the next day with the visa."
An unsigned restricted free agent since July 1, Zadorov and Sakic had been working on a contract all summer. It took until the first day of training camp for both parties to agree to terms on a new deal.
"For sure, I wished for it to be done early, but it's a business," Zadorov said. "You never know what is going to happen, right? Finally we got on the same page and now I'm here. I spoke with Joe, I spoke with the coaches, they're all happy I'm here, and I'm just here to play my best hockey."