"The Avalanche today signed free-agent Jan Hejda to a four-year, $13 million contract. Hejda, who played with Columbus last season, is a 6-foot-3, 230-pound defenseman.

An NHL source confirmed the Avs have contacted representatives for free-agent goalie Tomas Vokoun , but a deal has not been struck and the Avs may lose out to another team for his services.

Free agency began at 10 a.m. today.

Hejda, 33, has played five seasons, with his first season coming in 2006 with Edmonton. He has scored 12 goals and has 64 assists in 341 games.

He also is a member of the Czech Republic national team.

The Avs have close to $15 million still to spend to get to the NHL's minimum payroll of $48.3 million. It isn't as much a question of whether the Avs want to spend money, as in previous years. They must spend some money."