The number one blunder in Colorado Avalanche history: Letting go of Chris Drury.

That said, the Avs have had been relatively lackluster in the period of free agency thus far.

What talent has been let go?
    Andrew Brunette – Bruno returned to the Wild and will no doubt prove to us how stellar he really is when we play the team nineteen times this upcoming season. For reasons unknown to most of us, Bruno was seeing decreased playing time and his performance likely suffered because of it. Negotiations were pretty much at a stand still and Bruno felt snubbed in the way he was let go.

    Jose Theodore – A head-case goaltender with the potential to reach the upper echelons – with hard work and lots of dedication. He wanted more money than he was worth and negotiations never really picked up.

Continue reading "Avs wheel and deal with a lot less gusto this time around"

It's hard to be excited about a man that Denver Post writer Adrian Dater, quoting an Edmonton sports writer, defines as: "Not great offensively, not great defensively. Plays a safe game, kind of like Sauer."

If that really is the case, why did we even get rid of Sauer?

The numbers tell a slightly different story. Sauer had a combined 6 points in 54 games last season but he was a nice +17 with 41 penalty minutes. Daniel Tjarnqvist, who didn't play in the NHL last year, had a combined 15 points in 37 games during the 06-07 season. He was +3 with 30 penalty minutes.

You decide whose side your on. Tjarnqvist is going to have to work for me but that doesn't mean I won't be a fan. Ryan Smyth, despite his less than stellar numbers has won me over.

Naslund goes to the Rangers, Fluery to the Pens... 

Continue reading "Less than sufficient"

While we still await Joe's decision to stay...or not - training camp seems to be the new deadline - Avs fans have something to be excited about.

Marek Svatos signed a two year contract with the good guys, sparing a damaging arbitrition hearing and solidifying his spot as a major player for the Colorado Avalanche.

Svatos finished second in goals last year despite a season ending ACL injury. Despite this and a recent shoulder injury, Svatos has proven himself - with sufficient ice time - to be quite talented. He fought along with Ovechkin and Crosby for Rookie of the year and really stepped it up recently.

I've seen him begin to play the body more and he can be lethal with the puck - especially in front of the net, picking up rebounds. Expect Svatos to have a great year, if he sees the ice time he deserves. I'm thinking second line... 

Continue reading "Svatos!"