Jared Bednar has a center-wing duo that every NHL coach dreams of having.

This time we’re not talking about Nathan MacKinnon and Martin Necas.

With their big frames spanning nearly 13 feet and their sticks covering around 12 feet of ice, Brock Nelson and Valeri Nichushkin have become a dream duo for Bednar. What coach wouldn’t covet two gigantic forwards anchoring his second line? It seems unfair the Avalanche are allowed to throw a third forward on the ice with them.

The pairing inevitably causes the opposition to struggle to create offense.

Not only have Nelson and Nichushkin become a near permanent pair together at even strength, they’re usually the first duo Nolan Pratt sends onto the ice when it comes time to kill a penalty. And for good reason.

In their nearly 37 minutes together while shorthanded this season, the Avalanche have given up zero goals to opposing power plays when Nelson and Nichushkin are on the ice. Zero. Zilch. Nada. Keep in mind we are now well past the halfway point of the NHL season. Given their success when playing down a man, it should surprise no one they’re very good when a third forward is allowed on the ice with them.

The identity of the other forward hasn’t really mattered, either.

When Nelson and Nichushkin are on the ice together at 5-on-5, the Avalanche have an expected goals for percentage of 61.81%. For comparison’s sake, MacKinnon and Necas are at 56.04%. What makes those numbers all the more remarkable is that Val and Brock are starting more shifts in their own end as opposed to the offensive zone for matchup purposes. They might start their shifts in the defensive zone, but they aren’t finishing very many there.

With numbers like that, is it going to be difficult to separate the two?

“I think so,” Bednar said. “Obviously, Val has the ability, he’s played some good hockey with (MacKinnon) as well, but if you want to be as balanced as you can be and have four lines contributing, I like the way those guys have worked together.”

It’s a duo Bednar has stuck with from the beginning, as the two big forwards have consistently been linemates since Nelson arrived prior to the trade deadline last season. This season, they’ve found a new level of play, even if their communication is sometimes non-verbal.

“Val, he’s a quiet guy,” Nelson told The Denver Gazette.

So does that mean the American is learning any Russian to bridge the gap a little?

“I know a couple words. A couple words that I can’t say, a couple words like ‘good morning’ and ‘brother.’ I wouldn’t say I speak it, though,” Nelson joked.

There’s no need to speak it when their chemistry on the ice speaks for itself.

“He’s an unbelievable player. He’s a beast out there,” Nelson said of his Russian friend. “He’s so hard and strong on pucks, tenacious on the forecheck. Defensively, he’s one of the better wingers in the league. He’s got a little bit of everything. … I love playing with Val.”

Whether it’s Gabriel Landeskog, Artturi Lehkonen or Ross Colton on their other wing, the duo has thrived. Bednar, who likes to build his lines with pairs in mind, has found another he’ll have a difficult time separating in Nelson and Nichushkin.

What I’m hearing

• It’s been a rough year overseas for two of Colorado’s top prospects. Goaltender Ilya Nabokov picked up the first shutout of his season on Wednesday in the KHL, and is inching toward a save percentage of 90% after being at 92.3% and 93% each of the last two seasons. Mikhail Gulyayev has struggled to get ice time and has been out of the lineup with a broken facial bone. Nabokov is still set to come over to North America after his season ends. It’s believed Gulyayev will come to North America next season, as he hasn’t extended his KHL contract that expires in just a few months, but nothing is set in stone.
• Some rumblings recently from NHL insiders that if Artemi Panarin becomes available in trade, the Avalanche will be one team to watch. Colorado heavily pursued Panarin when he became a free agent in 2019 and is believed to have been the runner-up for his services. Finding a center will be a priority for general manager Chris MacFarland at the trade deadline, but if there aren’t many available, is loading up at wing another possibility? It’s an intriguing idea but would require some maneuvering under the cap for the Avalanche. Not to mention the asset-poor Avalanche aren’t likely to win a bidding war. It would also require some coaching creativity if it did happen, as Panarin likes to play the same spot on the power play that Necas and MacKinnon currently occupy. Then again, the power play hasn’t been a strength.

What I’m seeing

• Philadelphia traded a young Sergei Bobrovsky after he struggled in his sophomore season over a decade ago. Matvei Michkov is currently dealing with some issues of his own in his second season at the NHL level, which is not uncommon for young players. And he’s taking a lot of heat for it. That organization isn’t foolish enough to make the same mistake twice, are they?
• The biggest reason the Seattle Kraken are in a playoff spot? Philipp Grubauer. The former Avalanche goaltender has been brutal for the Kraken since signing a massive contract with them in the summer of 2021, but he’s been arguably the best goalie in the NHL over the last month. Seattle fans must be wondering where the heck this has been over the last four years.

What I’m thinking

• I don’t know how this Olympic situation is going to work out with the rink debacle in Milan, but I do know one thing: NBC must get Erik Johnson on its Olympic hockey broadcasts.
• Credit to Nashville for turning its season around. The Predators are 14-7 since the start of December, which has put them right in the wild card mix. Steven Stamkos has turned back time with 14 goals in those 21 games. They finish their season series with the Avalanche on Friday and have given them trouble each time they’ve played.