Don’t call him “Fedor the Fighter.”
Not yet, at least.
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“It wasn’t, like, really entertainment,” Avalanche forward Fedor Svechkov said of his fight with Radek Faksa during a 3-2 win over the Dallas Stars on Tuesday. “We kind of hugged each other, so (it was) good for the first one.”
Not only was it his first fight in the NHL, but it was his first fight in North America. “First one” implies there may be more to come. Don’t expect that, though.
Svechkov was standing up for his linemate Jaden Schwartz, who had just taken a big hit from Faksa. The Avalanche forwards, along with rookie T.J. Hughes, have combined to form Colorado’s most consistent line to start the season.
Because of that, Jared Bednar may prefer if Svechkov keeps his gloves on from now on.
“I like their play within the structure of the game. All three guys have been dialed into that,” Bednar said. “They all bring something a little bit different, and yet complement one another. It’s been a great line.”
On paper, it’s a line that in years past may have had trouble earning the trust of Bednar. This is a new Bednar, though. He wants to try a different approach this year, and that means trusting some younger players a bit more. This line contains two of them: rookie Hughes and newcomer Svechkov, who is nearly 18 months younger than Hughes despite having over 100 NHL games under his belt.
Even with a winner like Schwartz there to help out, the line could have been doomed from the start. Instead, they’ve thrived.
Prior to Friday’s game against Pittsburgh, which was the worst of the short season for the trio, they had been Bednar’s most consistent line. In over 43 minutes together prior to the Penguins game, the Avalanche had controlled nearly 62% of the shot attempts with this line on the ice and a whopping 70% of the scoring chances. Not only are they creating chances at one end, but they’re limiting them at the other.
Colorado Avalanche left wing Jaden Schwartz (71) collects the puck as Pittsburgh Penguins center Ben Kindel, left, pursues in the first period of an NHL hockey game, Friday, Oct. 16, 2026, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
For a line with two young players on it, that is the key to earning ice time under Bednar. It doesn’t matter how much offense you can produce. If you can’t defend, you won’t get on the ice with this team.
Playing in the middle, a lot of that defensive responsibility falls on Svechkov. He’s quickly earned Bednar’s trust, which has resulted in him playing a key role on the penalty kill early in the season.
“(Svechkov) is a real responsible two-way center. He can skate, he’s long, he’s got some grit to his game,” Bednar said.
“He’s good,” Schwartz said of the Russian to The Denver Gazette. “He’s taking key faceoffs, killing penalties. He’s a smart hockey player. He’s tough to handle when he’s moving. He’s a big body, protects the puck well (and) can make little plays.”
A lot of different things can go into a line working. Bednar notes they’re all buying into the structure of how the Avalanche want to play and they’re being rewarded for it.
But if you ask all three of them, you’ll get three slightly different answers as to why things are going so well early on.
“I think we’re just working for each other,” Svechkov said. “(We’re) not trying to handle the whole team by ourselves. Just trying to be close and support.”
“I think it’s just communication,” Hughes said. “We talk a lot on the bench, we talk a lot at practice … I just feel like we complement each other pretty well. Again, it’s early, but I feel like our chemistry is starting to build each game.”
Then there’s Schwartz.
While Hughes and Svechkov have a combined 138 NHL games between them, Schwartz is closing in on 900. He’s also got a Stanley Cup to his name, having won with St. Louis in 2018.
“He just does everything right,” Bednar said of the veteran. “He’s got a real savviness to his game to be able to make plays and the right play at the right time.”
It makes sense to put a guy like that with two young players, but Schwartz is quick to point out that while he’s in his 16th year in the NHL, he’s new to Colorado as well. Despite his experience, he’s learning a new system just like they are.
But when you’ve played as many games as someone like Schwartz has at this level, you know what you need to do to be successful. He’s making sure the two young forwards don’t forget that.
“What I’ve been talking about that I think can make us successful with them is: I think standing around on the outside trying to make cute plays, I don’t think that’s our game and it’s not what the team needs from us,” Schwartz told The Denver Gazette. “I think it’s more energy, skating, playing in the (offensive) zone and holding onto pucks and doing little things like that right.”
With two young forwards still learning the ropes at the NHL level, you can’t expect perfection every night. Friday night’s performance against the Penguins was proof of that, as Svechkov struggled at even strength. Bednar knows there will be some bumps in the road.
He also knows that, based off what he’s seen thus far, the two young forwards, along with Schwartz, can really help this team.
“It’s a little bit of a trust thing for me,” Bednar said. “(Hughes) has been responsible on the defensive side of things. Not perfect, but I see what he can provide us offensively, so I have a belief in what I think he can do for us long term …(Svechkov), some nights he looks amazing, I didn’t think he had a great night (against Pittsburgh), but I trust in his process of how he looks and what he’s doing, what he’s already done for us in games, that he can do that more consistently as the year goes on.”
Colorado Avalanche assistant coach Dave Hakstol, left and head coach Jared Bednar dispute a call in the third period of an NHL hockey game Thursday, Jan. 8, 2026, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
What I’m hearing
Bednar would have every right to be a little annoyed in how the coaching situation played out this week with Dave Hakstol and Brett McLean. If he is frustrated, he didn’t show it. “(Hakstol) was a pro,” Bednar said. “He just kept working and dealing with our guys, and as news started to leak, we shared it with our guys that this might be a possibility and they were all great at continuing on the task at hand.”
Despite Colorado’s power play troubles, Hughes has managed to stay on the top unit. They moved him out of the bumper spot and along the goal line on Friday, which helped create his first NHL goal. “It’s not the easiest shot to put in,” Nathan MacKinnon said. “It’s kind of against the grain, got down on one knee. He looks comfortable on the goal line. I think he’s more comfortable there than in the middle. He’s a pass-first guy, so I think he’s in a good spot down there.”
What I’m seeing
Biggest early-season surprise? The Boston Bruins. I was not a believer after last season and maybe I was wrong about that. However, I am not surprised the Philadelphia Flyers stink. Everything about their run felt fluky, and Rick Tocchet-coached teams tend to drop off in year two.
If the Oilers’ Evan Bouchard keeps this up, it will be really difficult to ignore what he’s doing when it comes time to vote on the Norris Trophy. He made my ballot last year and looks even better this season.
What I’m thinking
How the Eagles handle the goaltending situation the rest of the year will be interesting. Trent Miner cleared waivers and should be returning soon, but Ilya Nabokov has started his North American career red-hot, going 3-1 with a .936 save percentage. Not the worst problem to have.
I said Igor Shesterkin was an MVP candidate last week and then a day or two later his season was over due to injury, so I think I’ll stop jinxing players like that now.