Dater - The Avs could by buyers at the deadline
If the Avalanche is in the playoff hunt when the deadline presents itself (Feb. 27), then I think there's an excellent chance the Avs will be buyers. They've got the cap room to do something like pick up a name guy, even if as only a rental.
Colorado Avalanche waits to name its captainOn the day the Avalanche finalized its opening-night roster, the captain of the team remained undecided.
As he previously stated, Avs coach Joe Sacco on Wednesday said forwards Milan Hejduk and Paul Stastny will wear an "A" patch on their sweaters as alternate captains, but he's in no hurry to give anyone the "C."
A third player, however, will be given an "A," and that letter might rotate to the chests of various players.
Why Tomas Vokoun is likely to become an Avs goalie If I were walking into a Vegas sports book right now and they had a list of NHL free agents and their likelihood to sign with certain teams, I would probably empty out whatever meager amount was in my wallet and put most or all of it on “Tomas Vokoun to the Avalanche.”
Avalanche not looking to trade No. 2 pick in NHL draftGreg Sherman admits it: The offers have been, if not pouring in, coming regularly for the No. 2 pick the Avalanche holds in next Friday's NHL draft.
What would it take for the Avalanche general manager to part with the pick?
"It would have to be something paramount. But I'm not looking to move the pick," Sherman said after the NHL's most recent general managers' meetings in Boston. "There has been interest in the pick. Given the plan that we're on right now, it's not something we're looking to (trade)."
Are the Avs playing to get their coach fired?Obviously, (Yesterday) was just a disaster in Colorado Avalanche history. Peter Forsberg retires earlier in the day, and the Avs lose 9-1 to Calgary at night. The boos heaped on the team by the sparse crowd at the end were well deserved.
I know what you’re all wanting to ask right now: will (yesterday's) incredibly dismal performance and eight-game losing streak cost Joe Sacco his job? Tonight, I have no idea. Tomorrow? We’ll see.
I was supposed to have a nice off-day today, but Forsberg had other ideas, and I have just finished watching yestarday’s performance. It was the worst game I ever saw the Avs play, no question about it. The nine goals were the most they’ve EVER allowed in a game.
CANADIENS TRADE DEFENCEMAN O'BYRNE TO AVALANCHE The Montreal Canadiens announced Thursday that the club has traded defenceman Ryan O'Byrne to the Colorado Avalanche for forward Michael Bournival.
Ryan O'Byrne was pointless in three games with the Canadiens this season.
Since he first joined the NHL, O'Byrne has amassed 16 points, 181 penalty minutes and maintained a minus-3 in 128 regular season games with the Canadiens.
Dater: Avs need to make moves to take next step Your move, Avalanche.
Seriously, it's time to do something. It's time to spend some money or make a trade or both.
The Avalanche was a feel-good story of the 2009-10 season, a playoff surprise team that did it all with a new coach and a modest payroll. Management's thinking over the summer clearly was along the lines of "Let's just assume these kids of ours will get better and leave things alone."
Surprising Avs Looking To Build On SuccessOne of the bigger surprises last season was the emergence of the Colorado Avalanche. The Avs were a lottery pick in 2009 but in 2010 squeaked back into the playoff picture.
Many felt their emergence was a year too early. The team is young and had many questionmarks all throughout their roster. But they managed a great year and will now need to follow it up for even greater improvement.
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."
