Colorado Avalanche Trade Rumors

Avalanche Forum Top 3
Avalanche's Paul Stastny injured
December 5
Denver Post
 
"Avalanche center Paul Stastny?, who scored the second Colorado goal in Sunday night's 4-2 victory over the Detroit Red Wings, left the game in the third period with what the team is calling a torso injury. "We'll know more" today, Avs coach Joe Sacco said of his first-line center, who produced two shots in 15:41 before his injury. E.J. returns. The Avs eased defenseman Erik Johnson? back in the lineup after the former No. 1 overall draft pick missed the previous five games with a groin injury. Johnson played 15:06, second-lowest among seven Colorado defensemen. "As the game went on, I thought he got better," Sacco said."
Avs' Semyon Varlamov prepares for company
November 23
Denver Post
 
"For European players in the NHL, the holidays can be lonely, dispiriting times. For the young, unmarried ones, the holidays can be downright depressing. While North American players often receive visits from family, players from overseas usually have only cellphone calls or images over a computer monitor from loved ones. So it was with an upward lilt in his voice that Avalanche goalie Semyon Varlamov talked about how much he's looking forward to his parents and sister soon moving in with him at his Denver home. On Saturday, his mother, Larisa, is scheduled to arrive from Samara, Russia, while sister, Julia, arrives next month and father, Alexander, comes in February."
Peter Mueller scheduled to practice Wednesday for offense-starved Avalanche
November 9
Denver Post
 
"With the Avalanche beginning to get desperate for more scoring among its top forwards, the return of Peter Mueller can't come soon enough. While there is no set date for a possible return for the oft-injured left winger, Mueller is slated to participate in a full practice with the Avs today at Family Sports Center in Centennial. The Avs are getting next to nothing offensively lately from, for lack of a better term, their second line."
Avalanche coach Sacco shuffling his top lines
November 4
Denver Post
 
"In his continuous quest to find the right chemistry for his top lines, Avalanche coach Joe Sacco on Thursday moved Matt Duchene to the same line as the team's highest-paid player, Paul Stastny. For tonight's game against the Dallas Stars, Duchene will skate at left wing on a line with Stastny, with veteran Milan Hejduk on the right side. "We'll see if that can spark a couple of those guys," Sacco said after Avs practice Thursday. "It's an opportunity for (them) to feed off each other a little bit offensively. We'll see what it brings. It can always change, but I'm not going to just keep things consistent when they're not working, when we're not getting production the way we'd like to see"
Avs' Peter Mueller to skate again on his own
November 3
Denver Post
 
"Peter Mueller is back on skates for the Avalanche, albeit not in a game yet. The young left winger, whose career has been beset by concussions the last two years, skated Wednesday and is scheduled to do so today, on his own before practice. That is at least some encouragement regarding Mueller, who missed all of last season with a concussion and has not played since Oct. 12 with a head injury."
Landeskog stays with Avs
October 28
Denver Post
 
"Not that there seemed to be any doubt, but it is official: Gabriel Landeskog? will spend the rest of the season with the Avalanche. The Avs had until Thursday to decide whether to keep Landeskog and therefore be obligated to pay his full NHL salary this season, send the 18-year-old left winger back to a junior team or let him return to Sweden. The Avalanche confirmed that Landeskog is staying."
Avalanche's Mueller misses pregame skate with "head injury"
October 21
Denver Post
 
"Avalanche forward Peter Mueller wasn't scheduled to play in Thursday's game against the Chicago Blackhawks?. But he was expected to continue to skate with the team, yet he did not participate in Thursday's pregame skate at the Pepsi Center. Avs coach Joe Sacco said Mueller, who missed all of last season with concussion symptoms, wasn't feeling well after Wednesday's practice and will not skate with the team today or in Saturday's game at Chicago. He has not played in the past four games, and the team finally listed him on the injured list Thursday with a "head injury.""
Avalanche wing Peter Mueller out again with head injury
October 20
Denver Post
 
"Avalanche left wing Peter Mueller was not skating this morning as the team prepares for tonight's game against the Chicago Blackhawks?, and Avs coach Joe Sacco said today that Mueller has also been scratched for Saturday's game against the Blackhawks game in Chicago. "He's not feeling well," Sacco said. "After (Wednesday's) practice he notified us he wasn't feeling well. When we get back from our game in Chicago, we'll see how he is the next day.""
Colorado Avalanche's Mueller likely to miss third consecutive game
October 17
Denver Post
 
"Peter Mueller did not look like a particularly happy camper when he trudged into the dressing room after Avalanche practice Sunday at the Air Canada Centre. A brief interview with the left winger only served to confirm his disappointment. While Mueller took part in a full practice, it appears likely he will miss his third consecutive game tonight when the Avs play Toronto. All signs point to Mueller having had a return of concussion symptoms, although the Avs and Mueller are declining to give specifics about why he's missing games. He missed all of last season with a concussion."
Colorado Avalanche waits to name its captain
October 6
Denver Post
 
"On 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. Thus, the retired Joe Sakic? and Adam Foote remain the only captains in Avalanche history as the club begins its 16th season Saturday against the Detroit Red Wings at the Pepsi Center."
Avalanche close to reducing its roster to 23 players before season opener
October 5
Denver Post
 
"It likely was a restless night Tuesday for a few Avalanche players because of today's 1 p.m. deadline for final cuts before the regular season starts. NHL teams must trim their rosters to 23 active players by today. Among the Avalanche, there is genuine suspense about who won't make it. While the Avs have 27 players on the roster, three are expected to start the season Saturday on the injured list. They are defenseman Kyle Cumiskey (groin) and forwards Brandon Yip (broken forearm) and Mark Olver (head). That means one player will be sent packing today, and the choice won't be easy for Avalanche management. Players believed to be on the bubble are rookie Stefan Elliott, Ryan Wilson, Joakim"
Gabriel Landeskog: Avs rookie ready to stack up in the NHL
September 22
Denver Post
 
"In this week's installment, Avs rookie winger Gabriel Landeskog, the No. 2 pick in this year's NHL draft, talks about his transition to the NHL and the players he's most looking forward to beating. Landeskog answered fans' questions this week after the Avs' annual Burgundy-White intrasquad scrimmage. Being from Sweden and now part of the Avalanche, I am sure you've talked with Peter Forsberg?. If any, what kind of relationship do you have with him? What kind of advice has he given you? About the NHL or the Avs? ---Douglas, Aurora Gabriel Landeskog: The fact is, I've only talked to him once and it was the day after the draft. He called to congratulate me and only told me great things about"
Avalanche rookie Brad Malone is making most of preseason opportunity
September 22
Denver Post
 
"Based on the opportunity he has been given in training camp and his performance in Tuesday's intrasquad scrimmage, rookie center Brad Malone appears to have joined the list of the Avalanche's top prospects. That active "A" list begins with 2011 No. 1 draft picks Gabriel Landeskog and Duncan Siemens and includes 2009 second-rounder Stefan Elliott. Malone, however, might be the club's most NHL-prepared rookie. He is 22, having played four years at the University of North Dakota after the Avs selected him in the fourth round of the 2007 draft. Landeskog and Siemens are 18, Elliott 20. Malone, 6-foot-2 and 207 pounds, played mostly with proven veterans throughout training camp and will"
Avs' Cumiskey still not signed. What gives?
September 6
Denver Post
 
"It's more than a bit strange that the only Avalanche player still unsigned with training camp nearing is defenseman Kyle Cumiskey. Coming off an injury-filled season in which he played only 18 games and with several young defensive prospects closer to making the jump to the Avs, some wondered if Cumiskey would even be retained with a qualifying offer this summer. He was, with a qualifying offer of $708,750, which some might argue is too much for a player with a spotty playing and health history so far. Cumiskey, though, has yet to agree to a real contract with Colorado. I spoke this morning with his agent, Ross Gurney, and while he didn't have anything to say on the record about why there"
NHL policy change on substance abuse?
August 18
Toronto Sun
 
"The recent off-ice deaths of two NHL players could spark a change in how the league conducts its substance abuse and behavioural program. Commenting on the passing of New York Ranger Derek Boogaard and Winnipeg Jet Rick Rypien at the league's research and developmnt camp in Toronto, commissioner Gary Bettman told a wire service that he will soon approach the Players Association to study the current policy. Boogaard passed away in May after a mishap with alcohol and a painkiller drug. Rypien, who reportedly suffered from depression, died Monday and police will only say the circumstances were not suspicious. Both men had been in the program, which has helped many players with varied"
Avs sign forward TJ Galiardi to one-year deal
July 13
Denver Post
 
"The Avalanche had two unsigned restricted free agent players entering Tuesday. Now the Avs have only one, after forward TJ Galiardi agreed to a one-year, $700,000 contract today. Galiardi, 23, actually took a pay cut from his $875,000 salary of last season. But his contract of last season was a two-way deal in which he earned considerably less when playing in the minor leagues, which he did briefly."
Avalanche sign Porter, Wilson to one-year deals
July 10
Denver Post
 
"The Colorado Avalanche signed two veteran players today, thus avoiding arbitration cases for each. The Avs signed Kevin Porter to a one-year $850,000 contract and defenseman Ryan Wilson to a one-year $1.275 million contract. Each player had filed for arbitration."
Avalanche signs two from AHL, a goalie and a forward
July 9
Denver Post
 
"The Avalanche on Friday announced several signings designed to bolster organizational depth, most notably those of goalie Cedrick Desjardins and forward Evan Brophey, who both spent most of last season with American Hockey League teams. Given that the two goalies Colorado acquired last Friday — Semyon Varlamov, obtained in a trade with Washington, and Jean-Sebastien Giguere, signed as an unrestricted free agent — have had injury problems the past two seasons, Desjardins seems to provide additional organizational insurance in the net. Desjardins, 25, was 15-6-1, with a 2.59 goals-against average and a .905 save percentage with Norfolk of the AHL last season, but also was 2-0 in his only"
Capitals trade Semyon Varlamov to Colorado Avalanche for draft picks
July 1
Washington Post
 
"After several days of speculation surrounding goaltender Semyon Varlamov’s future in both Washington and the NHL, the Capitals announced that they’ve traded the 23-year-old Russian to the Colorado Avalanche. In return for Varlamov, Washington acquired Colorado’s first round pick in the 2012 NHL Entry Draft along with a second round selection in either 2012 or 2013. This week, reports based on comments from Varlamov’s Russian agent surfaced stating that the former first-round draft pick had opted to return home and play in the Kontinental Hockey League. Although Varlamov is a restricted free agent and received a qualifying offer from the Capitals, if he had departed for the KHL, the team"
Avalanche signs defenseman Jan Hejda from Columbus
July 1
Denver Post
 
"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."
Avs' Fleischmann intrigues as free agent pick up
July 1
Vancouver Province
 
"Tomas Fleischmann was a point-per-game performer for the Colorado Avalanche before the unrestricted free agent was sidelined for the season Jan. 18 with a blood clot in each lung now under control by the use of blood-thinners. Joel Ward was a gritty opportunist who had four goals and eight points for the Nashville Predators in a six-game, second-round series setback and the UFA finished with a surprising 13 playoff points in a dozen games. Tyler Kennedy managed 21 goals and 45 points for the injury-riddled Pittsburgh Penguins which spoke to raising his game in the absence of Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin, but he wasn't tendered a qualifying offer. On some level, all three wingers may"
Avalanche dives into NHL free agency with money to spend
July 1
Denver Post
 
"The Avalanche has a lot of disposable income going into today's NHL free-agent market. Who will the Avs have in their shopping cart when they hit the checkout stand? Fans will begin to learn after 10 a.m., when the bell sounds to open the market. As of Thursday night, only two other NHL teams — Florida and Phoenix — had more room than the Avalanche to spend under the league's new $64.3 million salary cap. With a cap-averaged current payroll of $33,795,833, the Avs need to spend nearly another $15 million just to get to the league's mandated cap minimum of $48.3 million. Goaltender is the Avs' biggest area of need. Colorado is without a veteran presence as a starter or backup in net, and"
Avalanche re-signs forward David Jones
June 29
Denver Post
 
"The Avalanche has re-signed forward David Jones to a one-year, $2.5 million contract. Jones scored 27 goals with 18 assists in 77 games last season. He has played four seasons with Colorado. "He was one of our top offensive players a year ago and is part of the young nucleus of this team," general manager Greg Sherman said in a statement."
Avalanche says goodbye to goaltender Elliott
June 28
Denver Post
 
"The Avalanche gave further evidence Monday that it plans a complete overhaul at the goaltender position when it failed to offer Brian Elliott a qualifying offer to retain his rights. Elliott and center Phillipe Dupuis were the two potential restricted free agents who were not tendered qualifying offers. That means they can become unrestricted free agents Friday, when the NHL's open market begins. The Avs extended qualifying offers to six players — TJ Galiardi, Ryan O'Byrne, David Jones, Kyle Cumiskey, Kevin Porter and Ryan Wilson. The Avs are highly likely to sign a free-agent goalie — and maybe two — when bidding commences Friday."
Leafs acquire John-Michael Liles from Avs
June 25
Toronto Sun
 
"For all of the platitudes heaped on Tomas Kaberle for being that coveted and elusive "puck-moving defenceman" that every team must have, the Maple Leafs still managed to have a dreadful power-play while he was in blue and white. Before the 2011 NHL entry draft got humming here Friday night, Maple Leafs general manager Brian Burke managed to get what he hopes will be an upgrade on the player he helped get a Stanley Cup ring with the Boston Bruins. In acquiring defenceman John-Michael Liles from the Colorado Avalanche for the relatively bargain-basement price of a 2012 second-round pick, the Leafs can at least hope there will finally be some "special" back in their special teams. "Liles is"
Fleischmann status: murky at best
June 22
Denver Post
 
"Tomas Fleischmann is expected to be healthy enough to play in the NHL next season. Whether that happens with the Avalanche or not? It's still unknown, but things don't seem very promising. It's June 21, 10 days before the start of free agency, and the Avs and Fleischmann have yet to talk at all about a new contract. On July 1, Fleischmann can talk to any team, as an unrestricted free agent. Fleischmann scored 21 points in 22 games with the Avs after coming over from Washington for Scott Hannnan, but then was sidelined for the rest of the season with pulmonary embolism (blood clots in his leg). Fleischmann has yet to be medically cleared by the Avalanche medical staff."
Avalanche has a target for NHL draft
June 21
Denver Post
 
"The Avalanche owns the second pick in Friday's first round of the NHL draft in St. Paul, Minn. Avs chief scout Rick Pracey said today the team has made up its mind on their list of preferred choices, and will adjust accordingly no matter who the Edmonton Oilers select at No. 1. "In our minds, we've made our list and the order has been set. Everything has been taken care of," Pracey said. "We just have to see how the draft unfolds, but our mind and our decision has been made, yes." Let the speculation begin as to that most preferred player, as Pracey would not disclose that information. There is a group of five players - Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, Adam Larsson , Jonathan Huberdeau, Gabriel"
Avs need to trade Stastny for a netminder
June 21
Denver Post
 columnist Mark Kiszla
"Hey, didn't you used to be the Colorado Avalanche? If the forgotten team in Denver sports wants back in the conversation and back in the Stanley Cup playoffs, start here: Trade center Paul Stastny. We look at the Avs now and yawn. This is not all Stastny's fault. But trading him could make the team buzz-worthy in Colorado again. During a week that will reshape the Avalanche's future with two picks in the opening round of the NHL draft, the honest reaction from all but die-hard hockey lovers is: ho-hum. This team desperately needs more oomph than what any teenage prospects can provide with the second and 11th choices in the draft. What Colorado needs is a rock-solid goalie the Avs have been"
Major junior star Huberdeau on Avalanche's draft radar
June 17
Denver Post
 
"Power-skating at age 4. Playing hockey at 5. A Memorial Cup MVP at 18. It seems Jonathan Huberdeau's life has gone perfectly according to plan. Next Friday at the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul, Minn., Huberdeau's life will take another turn when is drafted by his first NHL club. Considered a lock to be among the top five picks, the St. Jerome, Quebec, native has a shot at going first overall to Edmonton or second to the Avalanche. Not knowing where he could go might seem stressful for Huberdeau, but it isn't so. "The number doesn't matter for me. I just want to get drafted," Huberdeau said. "No matter where you get picked, you're going to have to work hard to make the team, so it doesn't"
Avalanche signs Lindstrom, hinting at interest in star prospect
June 16
Denver Post
 
"The Avalanche signed a Swedish player, Joakim Lindstrom, to a one-year contract worth $600,000. That in itself isn't major news. The more intriguing aspect of Lindstrom coming to Denver is a teammate he had with his last Swedish club. That teammate, defenseman Adam Larsson , is expected to be among the top four players selected next week in the first round of the NHL draft. The Avs have the No. 2 pick overall. If the Avs tipped their hand by signing Larsson's friend and teammate, they weren't saying Wednesday. The Avs issued a statement, with general manager Greg Sherman saying they were pleased to bring in a player who led the Swedish Elite League in scoring last season. Lindstrom, 27,"
Avalanche not looking to trade No. 2 pick in NHL draft
June 15
Denver Post
 
"Greg 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)." The plan for the Avs appears to continue to try to rebuild from within, with the draft a major part of the plan. Colorado owns the second and 11th picks in the first round of the draft June"
Hejduk re-signs with Avalanche
May 12
Denver Post
 
"Milan Hejduk re-signed with the Avalanche on Wednesday, so a link to the Avs' last Stanley Cup team remains on the active roster. Hejduk, 35, the only player left from Colorado's 2001 Cup team, signed a one-year, $2.6 million contract that, with incentives, could reach $3 million. Eschewing free agency, Hejduk said he likes playing in Colorado, and his family likes living in the state, too much to go anywhere else. "It's always been my intention to play for the Avalanche for as long as I can," Hejduk said. "I had no interest in going anywhere else, but you never know how things will go. They had to be interested too." Avalanche general manager Greg Sherman, in a team release said: "Milan"
Avalanche signs Milan Hejduk to one-year deal
May 11
Denver Post
 
"The Avalanche this morning signed veteran right wing Milan Hejduk to a one-year, $2.6 million contract. With incentives, the deal could go as high as $3 million, the amount he made last season. Hejduk, 35, scored 22 goals for the Avs this past season. He has scored 20 or more for 11 consecutive seasons and can set a franchise record with a 12th."
Avalanche signs Brad Malone, whose hit broke the neck of DU's Martin
April 14
Denver Post
 
"The Avalanche on Wednesday signed an entry-level contract with college forward Brad Malone, the player whose on-ice hit broke the neck of Denver's Jesse Martin in a game last season. Malone will report to the minor-league affiliate Lake Erie Monsters, the Avs said, for the beginning of the American Hockey League playoffs. The 21-year-old Malone finished his senior season at North Dakota, helping them to the NCAA Frozen Four. His 40 points (16 goals and 24 assists) ranked fourth on the team. He led the Sioux with 108 penalty minutes in 43 games. Malone was a fourth-round pick of Colorado's in the 2007 NHL draft. "Brad just finished a strong four-year college career and we look forward to"
Blues must send first-round pick to Colorado
April 13
St. Louis Post-Dispatch
 
"The Blues will surrender their 2011 first-round draft pick to the Colorado Avalanche after failing to win Tuesday's NHL draft lottery. The Blues packaged a first-round pick in the February trade that sent Erik Johnson and Jay McClement to the Avs and brought Chris Stewart and Kevin Shattenkirk to St. Louis. If the Blues had won Tuesday's lottery, in which they had only a 1.5 percent chance, the team could have kept its 2011 first-round pick and dealt Colorado its 2012 first-rounder. The New Jersey Devils, with a 3.6 percent chance, won Tuesday's lottery and jumped to No. 4 from No. 8 in the draft order. (The winner of the lottery can climb a maximum of four spots.) So the Blues'"
Avalanche's Adam Foote announcing retirement on Friday
April 7
Denver Post
 
"Adam Foote will make it official on Friday: he's retiring. The Avalanche defenseman will hold a press conference at 11 a.m. at the Pepsi Center to announce his retirement following this season, NHL sources tell The Denver Post. Foote may still play this weekend for the Avs, but is currently sidelined with a leg injury. He will retire having played 20 seasons in the NHL, all but one and three quarters with the Avalanche franchise."
Hejduk receptive to new deal
April 7
Denver Post
 
"The puck was on the stick, the goalie was somewhere in east Missouri after the fake and all Milan Hejduk had left to do was stuff the puck into the net and it would be a tie game and at least a point in the standings for the Avalanche. Then, the puck rolled off the stick and onto that of a St. Louis Blue, who slid it out of harm's way to leave Hejduk and the Avs with nothing. "That's the kind of year it's been in the second half," said Hejduk, after his potentially tying goal was foiled in the Avs' loss Tuesday at St. Louis. "First half of the year or most any other time, I probably put that in. It's been frustrating, that's for sure." The Avs enter tonight's game against Dallas virtually"
Goalie Pickard expected to sign a contract today
March 25
Denver Post
 
"The Avalanche today expects to sign the player it hopes is its goalie of the future — Calvin Pickard. Colorado reached agreement in principle with Pickard, 18, on a three-year entry-level contract — the third prospect from the junior ranks it has signed to contracts in the last two weeks. Joey Hishon and Stefan Elliott are the others. The contract is expected to be signed today. Pickard, selected in the second round (49th overall) in the 2010 NHL draft, has a 27-33-8 record this season for Seattle of the Western Hockey League, with a 3.36 goals- against average and .916 save percentage. Pickard's brother, Chet, was drafted as a goalie by the Nashville Predators. Despite agreeing to a pro"
Retirement imminent? Avs' Adam Foote signs on as coach of under-13 Colorado T-Birds for 2011-12 season
March 17
Denver Post
 
"While he has yet to make it official, signs are pointing to the conclusion that longtime Avalanche defenseman and captain Adam Foote will retire at the end of this season. Foote has signed on to become the coach of the Colorado Thunderbirds' under-13 team for the 2011-12 season, according to the team's website. Continuing an NHL career and coaching the Thunderbirds youth team at the same time would be virtually impossible. Foote, 40, played in Wednesday night's Avalanche game against the Vancouver Canucks and could not be reached for comment. He is playing out a one-year contract and has said recently he had not decided on his plans for next season."
Trade talk weighs on free-falling Avs
February 27
Denver Post
 
"High anxiety over Monday's 1 p.m. NHL trade deadline weighs heavily over the Avalanche dressing room. With a shocking blockbuster still fresh in everyone's minds and Saturday's 4-3 loss to the Los Angeles Kings making it 12 defeats in the last 13 games, the atmosphere really echoes the title of the old Mel Brooks movie. "It's tough not to think about it, especially with this slide we're on," said winger David Jones, who scored his 21st and 22nd goals. "It's on the back of everyone's minds. But it's a business, and when you're not winning, you know there are going to be changes." Scouts from 13 NHL teams were in the press box. Rumors abound as to who may be on the move. At this point, the"
Flyers have inquired about Adam Foote
February 25
Philly.com
 
"The Flyers search for a depth defender includes Colorado. According to two sources – one an agent that represents multiple big-name players, and the other is a league executive – Flyers general manager Paul Holmgren has made inquiries with Avalanche general manager Greg Sherman about captain Adam Foote. Foote, 39, has had injury questions himself this season – and over the last few seasons – but has the leadership, experience and skill to be a decent fit with the Flyers. Foote has not played in the last 3 weeks with a quadriceps injury, according to the Denver Post, but returned to practice Thursday for the first time. The interesting thing is that Foote, set to be an unrestricted free"
Source: Avs coach Sacco, GM Sherman to keep jobs
February 21
Denver Post
 
"Despite an ongoing team-record, 10-game losing streak and the unlikely prospect of a playoff appearance, Avalanche coach Joe Sacco will not pay for it with his job. Neither will general manager Greg Sherman. Sacco and Sherman will return next season in their respective roles, an NHL source told The Denver Post on Sunday. In his second year of a three-year contract, Sacco will be given the chance to help turn around a team that has seen nothing but turbulence and big changes in player personnel of late. Sherman is also in his second year at the helm. Sacco has had more numerical losses in personnel this season than any other coach in the Western Conference, and the third-most in the NHL."
Avalanche trade goalie Craig Anderson to Ottawa for Brian Elliott
February 18
Denver Post
 
"The Avalanche this morning announced a trade of beleaguered veteran goalies who have had disappointing seasons, acquiring Brian Elliott from the Ottawa Senators for Craig Anderson. Elliott, 25, signed with the Senators in 2007 after a full four-season career at the University of Wisconsin and helping the Badgers to the 2006 NCAA championship. The Ontario native was 13-19-8 this season, with a 3.19 goals-against average and an .894 save percentage. He has played 130 NHL games with Ottawa, with a 59-45-15 record, 2.81 goals-against average and a .903 save percentage. He is making $900,000 this season and can be a restricted free agent on July 1. After playing well for much of his first"
Peter Forsberg ends NHL comeback, to announce retirement today
February 14
Denver Post
 
"As of Sunday, Peter Forsberg was still a member of the Avalanche, having just flown home to Denver with the rest of his teammates after a tough Saturday night loss to Nashville. After the loss, Forsberg spoke of the need to "keep on working" at his game and his comeback, which had just reached two games. The comeback is over. At 2:30 p.m. today at the Pepsi Center, Forsberg will announce his career is over. With one last shocking surprise in a career filled with them, Forsberg this morning notified the Avalanche he would retire effective immediately. In one last heartbreak for Avs fans, they won't be able to see him play one more time on home ice. Forsberg will not play in tonight's game"
Peter Forsberg to announce retirement today
February 14
TSN.ca
 
"Colorado Avalanche forward Peter Forsberg will announce his retirement at a news conference in Denver on Monday. After being away from the NHL for more than two seasons, Forsberg was signed to a one-year deal with the Avalanche last week. In Friday's debut agains tthe Columbus Blue Jackets, Forsberg played 22 shifts and finished the game with one shot on goal with a minus 2 rating."
Former center Peter Forsberg returns to Avalanche
February 7
Denver Post
 
"It was vintage Peter Forsberg, a great chance for him to keep the panting, obedient media assembled by his locker in suspense for just a few more moments. And the player nicknamed "Foppa" milked it for all it was worth. After being asked "have you made your decision yet?" about playing for the Avalanche, Forsberg excused himself for a second to take off his upper-body protective gear. Then, with a flair for the overly dramatic that might earn him a spot on Sweden's version of "All My Children," Forsberg let the microphone mob in on the secret. "I want to play," Forsberg said. And so it was official: Forsberg, at 37 and nearly three years removed from his most recent NHL game, agreed to a"
Forsberg to return to NHL, Avs
February 6
Denver Post
 
"Peter Forsberg's answer is yes. Forsberg, the longtime Avalanche star, has decided to play for the Avs. He signed a contract today and traveled with the team to Phoenix, the Avs confirmed. Forsberg took part in today's practice with the team, then announced he will play with the team. He is not expected to play tomorrow in Phoenix, however. Forsberg, 37, said he had his mind made up before the 9 a.m. practice began. "I'm nervous to see how it goes," Forsberg said before taking the ice. "But I've been feeling much better in practice. I'm going to go see Greg (Sherman, Avalanche general manager) and see if I can get a contract." That answer was yes, the team confirmed. Details of a contract"
Report: Forsberg expected to sign contract with Avalanche
February 6
TSN.ca
 
"The Denver Post is reporting that Peter Forsberg will sign a contract with the Colorado Avalanche. The 37-year-old Forsberg has been practicing with the team for a little over two weeks to see if he could make a comeback in the NHL. Forsberg hasn't played in the league since he joined the Avalanche late in the 2007-08 season. He finished with one goal and 13 assists in nine games after being limited by a groin injury."
Peter Forsberg "very near" decision about returning to Avalanche
February 5
Denver Post
 
"Peter Forsberg was back at his old position of center today at Avalanche practice. With Avs youngster Matt Duchene absent the practice for a "maintenance day", Forsberg centered a line with Milan Hejduk and Chris Stewart, and seemed to look quicker and more comfortable on skates than he did on Wednesday. Forsberg, 37, continues practicing with the Avs, trying to determine if he can make a successful return to the NHL after nearly three years out of the league. Afterward, Forsberg called it a good day, but said that he still hasn't decided yet."