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Avalanche Alert

hockeyheidi Written by hockeyheidi, Wednesday July 08 2009
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With the signing of former Florida Panther goalie Craig Anderson the Colorado Avalanche are showing the motivation to gain key players, and fix the huge goalie gap.  Anderson has a two-year, $3.625 million contract, and he will begin the 2009-10 season as the main net minder.

 

 

Peter Budaj will remain as backup goalie, while ex-Avs backup Andrew Raycoft signed with the Canucks.  Swedish free agent goalie Jonas “The Monster” Gustavsson was rumored to be on the list for the Avalanche, but signed with the Toronto Maple Leafs to a one-year contract.

 

Defenseman Ian Laperriere rejected an offer by the Avs for a one-year deal worth less than the $1.15 million he made last season.  The Philadelphia Flyers offered up a three-year contract worth $3.5 million that send him east.  In four seasons, Lappy, was a hard-hitting player and very popular with the fans.  But younger rough guys, Cody McLeod and local Denver hockey celeb Paul Stasny, should be able to cover the defensive positions and rack up some PIMs.  

 

The Los Angeles Kings acquired left wing Ryan Smyth from the Colorado Avalanche for former Red Wing Kyle Quincey and Tom Preissing. The Avalanche will also get a fifth-round draft pick next year.  “Captain Canada” is out and “Deliver Us Duchene” is in.  Duchene’s highlights include:  getting six game-winning goals while directing the Brampton Battalion to the Ontario Hockey League final; he was sixth in the league playoffs with 26 points (14 goals, 12 assists) and tied for first with six power-play goals. Youth is the outlook for the rejuvenation of the aging and outdated Colorado Avalanche. 

 

Unfortunately, longtime captain Joe Sakic, who led the team to two Stanley Cup titles in 1996 and 2001, is retiring after a 20-year NHL career. He plans to make an official announcement on Thursday.  That leaves Adam Foote as the only original Nordique on the Avalanche team.

 

Super Joe has won championships and league MVP honors, and led Team Canada to an Olympic gold medal in 2002. He captured the Lady Byng Memorial Trophy for sportsmanship and outstanding play in 2001 But injuries over the last two years began to take its toll and he spent much of the 2008-09 season out due to an aching back that required surgery to repair a herniated disk. He also damaged three fingers on his left hand in a snow blower accident that the Denver media covered relentlessly.

 

Steve Yzerman has invited Sakic to Team Canada’s practice camp for the Olympics, Wayne Gretzy praised Sakic as “one of the best to ever play the game," and most media sources predict his induction to the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2012. 

 

I’ll miss you Joe on my Fantasy Hockey Roster; you’ve been there since 2001. 

 


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2 comments


0 up down 0
hockeyheidihockeyheidi, over 2 years ago said:

Yes it's Heidi from Denver. Did M.O. lead you to my articles. I sent him an email while I was in NY.

0 up down 0
Jerry MJerry M, over 2 years ago said:

Heidi from Denver? Capitol Hill? Friend of Jon Prude?