When Sam Malinski was about 10 years old, he went to a nearby Cub Foods grocery store to get an autograph from one of his local heroes.

Malinski is now 27 and about to enter his second full season as an NHL defenseman. When he sits in his stall at Family Sports Center after an Avalanche practice and looks a few spots down to his right, he sees the same guy. He’s older now, with a large beard and missing teeth.

There is a photo somewhere at home in Minnesota of a young Malinski with then-Wild defenseman Brent Burns.

“I remember the whole experience really well,” Malinski said. “He was just pretty much exactly who is he now, to even just me as a little kid. It’s pretty cool.

“I’ve talked to him a bunch. He just has a great presence for the room. He’s a ton of fun to be around. I don’t kn

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