69 replies to this topic

[ahtikullervo]

60 Jose THEODORE 5.500.000
31 Peter BUDAJ 600.000

71 Patrice BRISBOIS 3.000.000
3 Karlis SKRASTINS 2.400.000
5 Brett CLARK 1.500.000
26 John-Michael LILES 1.250.000
Jordan LEOPOLD 1.250.000
27 Ossi VÄÄNÄNEN 997.500
34 Kurt SAUER 634.000
2 Jeff FINGER 450.000
Johnny BOYCHUK 450.000

19 Joe SAKIC 5.750.000
23 Milan HEJDUK 3.800.000
22 Steve KONOWALCHUK 1.900.000
87 Pierre TURGEON 1.500.000
14 Ian LAPERRIERE 1.064.000
8 Wojtek WOLSKI 984.200
Tyler ARNASON 950.000
15 Andrew BRUNETTE 800.000
10 Brad MAY 700.000
24 Antti LAAKSONEN 684.000
Mark RYCROFT 550.000
12 Brad RICHARDSON 550.000
11 Cody McCORMICK 495.000
Ryan STEEVES 450.000
Matt MURLEY 450.000

RFA:

40 Marek SVATOS
53 Brett McLEAN

[DropThePuck]

Colorado Avalanche right winger Milan Hejduk rides a stationary cycle as trainer Mike Sanders holds the bike steady during physicals at the Pepsi Center in Denver, Thursday, Sept. 14, 2006.
(AP Photo/Jack Dempsey)


Colorado Avalanche left winger Brad May jumps during physicals for hockey camp at the Pepsi Center in Denver, Thursday, Sept. 14, 2006.
(AP Photo/Jack Dempsey)

[DropThePuck]

Colorado Avalanche goalie Jose Theodore heads back to the net to take part in drills as the Avalanche open thier training camp for the 2006-2007 NHL hockey season Friday, Sept. 15, 2006, in Englewood, Colo. Theodore and his teammates are preparing for the opening preseason game against the Dallas Stars on Tuesday, Sept. 19, in Denver.
(AP Photo/David Zalubowski)


Colorado Avalanche defenseman Jeff Finger leads teammates down the ice in warming up before taking part in drills at the opening day of training camp for the Avalanche for the 2006-2007 NHL hockey season on Friday, Sept. 15, 2006, in Englewood, Colo.
(AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

[Dark Knight]

Konowalchuk announces retirement

Colorado Avalanche forward Steve Konowalchuk announced today that he's retiring from the game of hockey after a 13-season career in the NHL.

Konowalchuk made this decision official after undergoing an additional series of tests relating to his heart condition. This condition was detected during medical tests that all Avalanche players underwent prior to the start of training camp. Results from a standard EKG test revealed an abnormal reading.

Read More >>

[DropThePuck]

Sakic ... What a doll!

[DropThePuck]

Colorado Avalanche's Ryan Smyth, left, gets an extra helping hand from his invisible friend in snowy scuffle with teammate Mitch Love during the team's hockey practice at training camp Saturday, Sept. 15, 2007, in Denver.


Actual caption:

Colorado Avalanche's Ryan Smyth, left, gets into a scuffle with teammate Mitch Love during the team's hockey practice at training camp Saturday, Sept. 15, 2007, in Denver.
(AP Photo/Steve Dykes)

[UltraDavid]

Avs sign Forsberg to a 1-year deal: http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/news_story/?ID=230555&hubname=nhl

[M T]

The 34-year-old unrestricted free agent signed a US$5-million, one-year contract with the Colorado Avalanche on Monday. He will earn $1.1 million pro-rated since there's only six weeks to go in the regular season.

http://www.thehockeynews.com/articles/1378...708-season.html

[Todrick]

i thought he wanted to play for a cup contender?

just like last year, i think his team evaluation skills may be lacking

[Duck304]

This absolutely baffles me! The Avs are in no position to contend for the cup, and they will need to have a hell of a record to break through and pass the Coyotes. Very classy, though. I like Foresberg.

[M T]

This was a good move by the Avs. They have people excited about the team and buying tickets. We'll have to see how it turns out on the ice.

[DropThePuck]

When the Wild and Anaheim Ducks met earlier this season, Ducks veteran Brad May felt he had no choice but to fight Derek Boogaard and "answer the bell" for sucker-punching non-pugilist Kim Johnsson in last year's playoffs.

But Colorado Avalanche forward Ian Laperriere, fresh off repeatedly punching Wild star Marian Gaborik with his gloves still on in Sunday's regular-season finale, made clear Monday he has no plans to drop the gloves with the "Boogeyman" when the Wild and Avalanche open the Western Conference quarterfinals Wednesday in St. Paul.

"I won't fight Boogaard. He knows that," said Laperriere, 34, a 14-year vet who's been in 161 fights. "The guy's 6-7, 270. I don't want anything to do with that. But if he wants to take penalties on me and chase me all night, be my guest. We'll be on the power play and we'll win games like that."

<link>

[ladiesandgentlemen]

"I won't fight Boogaard. He knows that," said Laperriere...
<link>

Don't worry about Boogaard, Lappy. The Fridge is gonna get ya! (or Simon or Voros... they're lined up four deep for you)

After he dismantles Scott Parker, Boogaard will be cruising around looking for a knee-on-knee with Sakic, Forsberg, Hejduk, Smyth, Stastny, Brunette, Wolski, or Svatos. I really think Laperriere signed the Avs up for some major grief.

[ladiesandgentlemen]

The Denver Post has imported the spirit of Ottawa:

Let the mugging begin.

It's the only way the Minnesota Wild can win.

... Minnesota coach Jacques Lemaire, mean enough to chew the glass surrounding the rink, has an unabashed fondness for tough guys. The more the scarier.

You've got to hate watching the Wild play, but love the way Lemaire refuses to give an inch of open ice. The never-surrender attitude of his team must be born in the cold recesses of Lemaire's heart.

The dark hockey arts are practiced by every member of the Wild. Even a player as remarkably talented as Minnesota center Mikko Koivu is not adverse to hacking and tripping when Colorado's Ryan Smyth is carrying the puck on goal.

Every videotape of a Minnesota game is film noir, packed with the moral ambiguity of doing whatever it takes and never apologizing.

Anywhere the Wild goes, flowers wilt, the sky turns gray and beauty dies. Read more humor

That's about the most ignorant hockey article I've ever read, but I must say that it is Ottawa-worthy in it's cry of being the poor victim.

Isn't it interesting that many Minnesotans were saying the exact same things about the Ducks last year!

[lvsprt]

The Denver Post has imported the spirit of Ottawa:
That's about the most ignorant hockey article I've ever read, but I must say that it is Ottawa-worthy in it's cry of being the poor victim.

Isn't it interesting that many Minnesotans were saying the exact same things about the Ducks last year!

Accountability in this day and age is overrated.

[Duck304]

Minnesota is a very like-able team. Not! See what Boogaard did in game three? He got a penalty called on him, then shot the puck down the ice, and then punched a guy in the face.

Hope Colorado destroys them.

[GLOVESAVE35]

Minnesota is a very like-able team. Not! See what Boogaard did in game three? He got a penalty called on him, then shot the puck down the ice, and then punched a guy in the face.

Hope Colorado destroys them.

They're being destroyed 5-1 right now.

[QuacksMeUp]

Under the title of "You have GOT to be kidding me"

Forsberg said he wants to return to Colorado next season – health permitting. Otherwise, it’s time to retire,

''Just too many injuries,'' Forsberg said. ''If it doesn't get solved, that would be it, but we'll see what happens.''

[M T]

The Colorado Avalanche announced Friday that head coach Joel Quenneville will not return to coach the team next season.

http://www.thedenverchannel.com/news/16214730/detail.html

Didn't really see that one coming

[QuacksMeUp]

http://www.thedenverchannel.com/news/16214730/detail.html

Didn't really see that one coming

Wow! That was harsh.

[ladiesandgentlemen]

http://www.thedenverchannel.com/news/16214730/detail.html

Didn't really see that one coming

Typical hockey move... CYA by the GM. The team didn't meet expectations, so the coach's head rolls.

I don't see this season's problems as being Quennville's doings... not at all. Tons of injuries and inconsistency in net seems to me was their undoing.

Wow! That was harsh.

I think that GM there in Colo is whacked.

Better for Quennville to get out of there. I think he will be one of the first coaches snapped up.

[QuacksMeUp]

Typical hockey move... CYA by the GM. The team didn't meet expectations, so the coach's head rolls.

I don't see this season's problems as being Quennville's doings... not at all. Tons of injuries and inconsistency in net seems to me was their undoing.


I think that GM there in Colo is whacked.

Better for Quennville to get out of there. I think he will be one of the first coaches snapped up.

I agree. Any coach that can get his team into the playoffs with all of the injuries to the top guys should be given a raise, not a pink slip!

[UltraDavid]

I would have had Quenneville in front of Babcock for the Adams nomination, can't believe Giguere fired him. Oh, sorry, he only had severe injuries and sometimes questionable goaltending in the deepest and most even in the NHL and still made it into the postseason as the 6th seed and got into the 2nd round. Very weird.

[ladiesandgentlemen]

Could see this coming:

Could former Avalanche goalie Patrick Roy succeed Joel Quenneville as the Avs' next head coach?
...
"Am I interested? Right now I am very happy in Quebec with the Remparts. I really haven't thought about one day making the move to the NHL. Right now this is only a rumor or speculation," Roy told RDS.

But Roy seemed to leave a little wiggle room that he might be interested.

"We'll see what's going to happen. Francois Giguere will certainly have a list of candidates that he would like to meet." Link

I'll bet Roy will get the job, in spite of his shameful actions in encouraging his son and the rest of his team to be goons in that QMJHL playoff tilt, among his other less-than-exemplar actions. That GM in Colo is always looking to make a big splash.

[ladiesandgentlemen]

Well, I was wrong.

Tony Granato gets the job.

Avs homepage

Congrats to Tony. Took him quite a while to get the job back.

I wonder if he'll bring in his bro-in-law "Chicken Parm" as a one of his assistants...