Answering questions is never an issue for Ian Cole because he can either provide an eloquent, well-thought-out response or completely catch you by surprise with something funny.



Talking about Nikita Zadorov made him do both.



“Can we wait until he’s gone so he doesn’t have to listen to me pump his tires?” Cole said with a smile. “Can I just whisper into the microphone?”



Zadorov, who was all of a foot away, did not hear a single word of what Cole said while he stoically unlaced his skates while sitting in the next stall at Pepsi Center.



Such a moment matters because it is one of the few as of late in which Zadorov was not aware of his surroundings.



Everything the Colorado Avalanche are doing lately is going noticed by the NHL. Winning six straight games generates that kind of attention. One of the reasons for that success? It’s Zadorov. The 24-year-old defenseman has always possessed certain abilities,...