In the second surprising move of the day, the Avalanche have announced that they’ve re-signed UFA-to-be Scott Parker to a 1-year deal. Just 5 days ago, I called the Sherriff “an unlikely candidate to return” and added that he “may be lucky to find any NHL employment”. Obviously, I have my finger on the pulse of the team.
Is it just me, or do the Avs seem to be stocking up on 4th line forwards? We’ve got Guite and Lappy. We’ve got Parker. We’re probably going to see McLeod and McCormick back, and we’ve aquired Marty Sertich and Matt Hendricks. Weren’t we supposed to be getting ready for the Granato Era (Part II) by moving towards players with a bit more skill? We’re bringing back guys like Parker and losing guys like Brad Richardson and Jaroslav Hlinka. I sure hope there’s a plan here…
You just can’t have too many guys that can’t skate.
maybe I should make my services available
This offseason if fugly so far. Wtf, FG? Wtf?
Maybe FG is superstitious about the 25-6-4 stat when Parker is in the lineup.
Its not just you- I’ve also noticed this disturbing trend of signing nobodies (well, relative nobodies) while apparently letting bruno go without even a thank you, no word on liles or theodore (I hope its a given foote will be back seeing they gave up a good pick for him and he has said he only wants to play here) no pressure on sakic, the “coaching” situation (god I hope I am wrong on that) and just in general a lack of class and decisiveness in an organ-eye-zation that used to be noted for both.
I’m getting seriously disgusted and almost wondering if kroenke hasn’t run out of money and told the team to let everyone expensive walk. The sakic think especially bothers me as I did the whole point and laugh thing all last year with selanne and niedermeyer, especially when they lost in the first round.
wtf avs? I thought you were better than this. Guess I’ll charge the lantern batteries, we could be headed for the basement. Well, probably not, but I’d rather be there and have some hope of a way out than be stuck in mediocrity like the maple laughs.
I guess I should add that although I have thought that there is some kind of talking going on between sakic and fg, I still remember joe signing a hugely frontloaded offer sheet to the rangers when the avs were changing owners and not at all sure if they could match. Joe knew that too, and it didn’t stop him from going for the bucks. (I probably would too- ok, I definately would) But my point is that deep down its not the avs that matter, its joe sakic. It isn’t bucks this time, but he could wait to see if they are gonna be contenders, because he is not as classy as yzerman to take a diminished role to help his team. that hurts like a long term prison sentence to write, but there it is.
I’m psyched the Sheriff is back! $500k, and a two-way contract that only pays $100K if he plays for the Monsters is as cheap as you can get. The guy lives and dies for the Avs - he has a big fat Avs tatoo (along with many, many others), and he CAN score if allowed to try. He was one of our first-round pics, remember. Maybe Tony G will let him loose a bit more, and maybe that win-loss record speaks for itself. I was one of the CAN ticket holders CHANTING for Parker last year, on games where he was one of the only bright spots of the night. Yeah Sheriff, go get ‘em! Park him in front of the net and dare the opposing defence to try to knock him out of the crease. Even better, duct-tape a d-cell battery on his shoulder. I DARE YOU!
In all fairness, the only people available for the Avs to sign right now are 4th liners.
I’m not sure why the Avs wanted Parker back besides being a fan favorite. His contributions on the ice weren’t very impressive last year. I think he’d be nothing short of awsome in the AHL where he earned his rep as a much younger guy. Again, FG seems to be settting up Lake Erie early.
Colorado sports mediocrity is the goal.. and were headed straight for it. Pretty soon you won’t realize if you’re sitting at a Rockies, Broncos, Nuggets, or Avs game. You’ll have to check your ticket.
I actually thought Parker was going to retire. I was under the (obviously faulty) assumption that his shoulder wasn’t going to hold up for him to fight, which is a problem for a fighter.
Good god everyone’s so doom and gloom. Everybody knows the little names get signed first because they’re the ones most desperate for a job. The big names shop around before signing anything because their agents aren’t stupid and want to get PAID.
It’s not even July 1st yet. Everybody relax.
Well, I think the point of concern is that July 1st is the deadline. After July 1st you lose your exclusive barganing rights. Brunette, Finger, Foote, Sakic, Theo and Liles could technically all be gone come that day. I would like to see FG sign at least a couple of guys before the deadline so you don’t pay the free market mark-up. I mean, can we lock up finger for 1 million but if we wait until free agency will he get an offer for 1.75? Crap like that.
Agree totally about the wtf factor with not signing ANYONE other than Parker yet. Sign someone before July 1, you might get a bargain. After July 1? Not likely. Of course, has anyone really been signing any significant “own” UFAs? I’m sure the NHLPA is encouraging guys to hit the open market.
It also seems that the Avs have about the best crop of UFAs and RFAs out there. That couldn’t be a good thing, could it be? Wtf has FG been doing over the course of the past several years to put them where they are today?