Avalanche won't make waves in free-agent market
Any Avalanche fan who hopes the team uses much of its considerable salary cap room on a free-agent splurge July 1 will be disappointed. Avs general manager Greg Sherman all but ruled out any pricey forays this summer, preferring to continue a "build from within" blueprint.
"I don't foresee any shortcuts," Sherman said, following a meeting of league GMs at a Philadelphia hotel Wednesday. "Our plan is to build around the young, enthusiastic players we have now."
Dater: Avs have room to acquire talent There should be some fine free-agent NHL players available July 1, and the Avalanche should have plenty of cash to spend if owner Stan Kroenke gives the OK.
The Avs have 12 players under contract for the 2010-11 season at combined, cap-averaged salaries of $28.2 million. The salary cap is expected to stay at or near the current $56.7 million. Of the few players the Avs definitely need to re-sign (
Peter Mueller ,
Chris Stewar t,
Kyle Quincey ), most are restricted free agents, meaning they won't have full leverage in negotiations, giving the upper hand to management.
Offseason Plans: Colorado AvalancheSo, I'm going to try and help out every team in the league this summer. Some(most) may not be good, but credit me for trying and feel free to leave your opinions, criticism, or your own version of what will happen for the teams. After randomly thinking of a team, I've decided that I'm going to start with the Avalanche.
Avs taking time to evaluate next move Ten veterans on the Avalanche's playoff roster have expiring contracts and will be unrestricted free agents July 1 if the team doesn't re-sign them.
Colorado general manager Greg Sherman wouldn't talk this week specifically about whom the team will attempt to bring back, saying the Avalanche will have organizational evaluation meetings in the upcoming weeks.
Avs Mailbag: Are the trade winds blowing?
Adrian Dater Denver Post sports writer Adrian Dater posts his Avs Mailbag on Mondays during the 2009-10 NHL season.
Pose an Avalanche- or NHL-related question for the Avs Mailbag.
No trades in sight for young Avs team By Adrian Dater
It's only January, but already NHL teams are making decisions about whether to buy or sell at the league's trading deadline. Why now, when the deadline isn't until March 3?
Hard Times Ahead For AvsThe Colorado Avalanche have gone from perennial contenders to potentially perennial losers, at least for the near future. Drained by retirements, defections and years of trading for the present the Avs now are basically starting again from the ground up.
They've gotten off on the right foot with the selection of Matt Duchene. But there is so much work to be done with needs at almost every position but possibly centre.
With a likely very young team on the ice, and a rookie coach and GM leading the way, there may be lots of long nights on Colorado.
Thanks, JoeThis is a tough goodbye to a legendary player. Every year we lose guys who will likely make the Hall of Fame. Sometimes we lose them in groups of three, four, or five. But it's not often we lose the quality of man we are about to lose in Joe Sakic, and I have one word for him.
Sakic RetiresESPN is reporting that after 20 seasons, Avalanche superstar Joe Sakic has decided to retire. Sakic spent his entire career with the Nordiques/Avalanche and has been a face of the franchise ever since Quebec moved to Denver, Colorado in 1995. Sakic is one of seven players that has 600 career goals to go alongside 1,000 career assists. Sakic is just one of the greats on that list, one that includes greats like Mark Messier, Wayne Gretzky, and Mario Lemieux.
Armchair GM: The Colorado AvalancheThere probably isn't any team in the league that needs more retooling than the Colorado Avalanche. Yet, oddly enough, they could turn things around pretty quickly the way they are sitting.
They do not have quantity in terms of young talent, but they do have some quality. Kevin Shattenkirk projects to be a top 4 defensemen, and possibly a top 2. He should make an impact this year. They do have their franchise center in Paul Stastny, a couple solid support players (Hejduk, Wolski, Smyth), a top 5 pick, and a lot of salary coming off the books next season.
