The Nikita Tryamkin era begins Wednesday.

Vancouver Canucks head coach Willie Desjardins confirmed the defender will make his NHL debut at home against the Colorado Avalanche.

The 6-foot-7, 240-pound Russian, only 21, was a third-round pick by the Canucks in 2014, and has spent four years playing in the KHL. He's often been compared to Boston Bruins behemoth Zdeno Chara, due to his size, but Tryamkin wants to leave his own mark.

"He would like to surpass and be better than Chara," Tryamkin's interpreter said last week, according to the Vancouver Sun's Brad Ziemer. "And he would like to not be Zdeno Chara, but would like to be Nikita Tryamkin."

The decision to insert the rookie into the lineup was a lot easier to make after Monday's loss, in which defenseman Luca Sbisa and forward Markus Granlund were lost to injury. Both won't be back "anytime soon," and an update on each player's condition is expected later Tuesday.

The Canucks are playing out the string, so if you're looking for a reason to tune in, you've got one in Tryamkin.

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