Category
Avalanche Notebook
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06.29.08Avalanche re-sign Foote and LilesI have to admit, I didn't see the second part of this coming. The Avs have re-signed Adam Foote and John-Michael Liles. Foote's deal is being reported as 2 years at $3 million a season and Liles' is a whopping 4 year deal at a bit over $4 million per. It seems like each player took about a million (or so) less than they could command on the open market. I am ecstatic (and surprised) to see both back. That's two solid re-signings by Francois Giguere; it's a nice recovery after a couple of questionable trades this offseason. The signings puts ...
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06.25.082008 Final Grade: Peter Budaj2008 Final Grade: B- 2007 Grade: B+ Links: {{budaj}} (hockey-reference page) 2007 report 2008 ITCS (aka highly unofficial) game log Season Stats: 35gp 16-10-4 2.57gaa 0so .903svpct Minutes: 1,911, 30 starts 1st Half: 26gp 14-8-2 2.63gaa 0so .901sv% 2nd Half: 9gp 2-2-2 2.37gaa 0so .911sv% Playoffs: 3gp 0-0-0 3.33gaa 0so .909sv% Best Month: December (9gp 5-2-2 2.30 0sp .917sv%) Season: Budaj had a career-best 2.57 GAA Report: There's been a recent influx of traffic here lately, so I think I should offer up some disclosure to any new readers. I am a Budaj guy. While many folks will say that Budaj had an off-year, his GAA actually dropped (from 2.86 to 2.57). ...
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06.24.08The Sherriff will still be in townIn 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 ...
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06.24.08Boychuk traded to BostonIn yet another deal the Avalanche probably won't ever announce, the Avs have dealt defenseman Johnny Boychuk to Boston for forward Matt Hendricks. I'm not familiar with Hendricks, but just looking at his numbers this doesn't seem like a great return. His stats remind me a bit of another former Providence Bruin: Ben Guite. Nothing wrong with that, except that we already have a Ben Guite. I was pleased with the Richardson deal, but I'm not very fond of this one.
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06.24.08More on Per Ledin12 days ago, word got out that Swedish agitator Per Ledin had signed with the Avalanche. In typical Avalanche fan-hating fashion, there has yet to be any formal announcement of this by the team. It has been confirmed that Ledin is coming to the NHL. This article on Ledin's former team, HV71, confirms that he has used an NHL opt-out clause in his contract and would be joining an unnamed NHL team. The guy quoted in the article wishing Ledin luck in the NHL is Fredrick Stillman - the GM for HV71 - so I think it's a good bet that ...
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06.24.08What’s he doing?The will-he-or-wont-he saga is going to last a bit longer. Adrian Dater is reporting that {{sakic}} will not have a decision by next Tuesday's start of free agency. And that's going to make it a hell of a lot tougher for the team to work in free agency. While I 100% agree with Avalanche Vice President Jean Martineau when he says "Joe has earned the right to take his time on this", I'm a bit surprised that Super Joe would risk damaging the team to make this decision. Come on, Joe, just tell us you're coming back and leave the soap ...
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06.22.08Brad Richardson heads westThe Avalanche had another relatively quiet draft weekend (check with Jori for all the details on the draftees). GM Francois Giguere made one notable deal, sending forward Brad Richardson to the Kings for a 2nd round pick. I like Richie. Like most everyone else, I don't think he was used properly by Joel Quenneville. I thought there might be a chance for career revival under Tony Granato, but I guess that wasn't in the cards. Frankly, the Avalanche have too many established forwards and enough developing forwards to make Richardson expendable. And to get a 2nd round pick for him? Yeah, ...
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06.12.08The Avs sign yet another guy I’ve never heard ofProps to some HF poster for breaking this one. The Avs have apparently signed forward Per Ledin. I've never heard of him, of course (I'd never heard of Marty Sertich either, so that doesn't mean much). This page lists Ledin as 6'0" and 194 lbs, and describes him as more of an agitator than skilled player (Ville Nieminen immediately comes to mind). That makes me excited if not a little confused. How many 4th liners do we need? A very aggressive forward. Ledin works extremely hard, plays with plenty of grit and intensity and is good at shutting down the top ...
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05.22.08The other shoe to coach the AvsAny time Joel Quenneville was discussed in the Avosphere, there was always a caveat. The speculation has always been that if Q were to leave, Tony Granato would be one of the candidates to return to the bench. That other shoe dropped today; Granato is the new / old coach of the Avs. I'm decidedly "meh" about this move. I like Granato think it's commendable that he stayed on as an assistant after being dropped as a head coach. I think there's better candidates out there...and some worse ones as well. Granato screams out as the "safe" choice. That's not a ...
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05.20.08Hlinka moves onThanks to thedoctor for this link that confirms what we all knew was coming - Jaroslav Hlinka is headed back to Europe, signing with a Swedish club. That is a Swedish club, right? Even though we all knew he wouldn't be back, I'm sorry to see Hlinka go. I enjoyed watching him play - especially when he was on his game, which, unfortunately, wasn't quite often enough. I think with a little more seasoning he could be a useful player in the NHL, but the Avs just didn't have the luxury of giving him the ice time he needed to develop. ...
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