Dear Santa,

This being the Information Age and all, I figure you're reading this blog right now. How else would a fan located at the North Pole keep up with his favorite team, right? I don't presume to know what NHL team you're a fan of, but of all of the teams, I figure that the Avs' logo and color scheme are more your speed than say, the Kings, but bear with me.  I know it's Christmas Eve Day and it's a little late for dolling out Christmas ideas, but I'd like to append my list by one item.  You can keep the XBox 360 and the new Prince of Persia game.  I know, I know!!!! I can't believe I'm saying this either!  No, seriously, drop that spectacular gaming experience off of the list and add this instead: A "break."  No, not a broken arm, like all-around-swell-person-and-top-tier-talent Paul Stastny suffered the other night, but a "break."  As in "the Avs need to catch a break." 

Now, I'm not one to tell you how to do your job.  You shatter laws of physics and employ the only union workforce without a work stoppage in recent decades, so you obviously know what you're doing.  However, I think this "break" could come in one of several forms, and I'd be happy with any one of them.  Some candidates for the "break" include, but are not limited to:

1. TJ Hensick can step up and, now that he'll be paired with legit linemates for a somewhat decent stretch of time, show the talent to give Avs fans hope for the remainder of this season and the foreseeable future.
2. Management could find a disgruntled trading partner and improve the team at center or defense for the long-term.  I'm not talking Roy-level of disgruntledness, but if we could be on the receiving end of an unbalanced trade (refer to Flames and Drury/Tanguay for reference to unbalanced trades) that would be great.
3. Svatos & Wolski could put the team on their back and make a statement that they need to be a big part of the Avalanche moving forward.
4. Maybe management could look around at the team and the development system, throw their hands in the air, throw this season under the bus, and have some fun.  That way the kids could get some legit shots and maybe we could get a higher-than-usual draft pick out of the deal.
5. Tyler Arnason could step up and carry a line for a while.  I’m not talking the whole season, just a stretch of about a month, month-and-a-half.  They he jumps in the UFA pool at the end of the season, signs with Detroit for 4 years at $3.5 million per year and underperforms badly.
6. The remaining members of the 2008-2009 Colorado Avalanche play out the season like they actually give a damn.
7. Forsberg returns and is in his 1998-1999 form. 

So, yeah, I know some of those may be farfetched in some people's eyes, but even with the current state of the world, I still believe that a jolly, mildly obese sometime-saint has the moxxy and the brains to pull off something good for our beloved Colorado Avalanche. Anyway, good luck making the rounds this year.  I understand Detroit plans on lighting some stuff on fire for you, so you know where to find 'em, so that should help with trip planning.

Merry Christmas!!

Mike @ MHH

P.S.  My birthday is like three days after Christmas, so if you wanna just delay the delivery of the XBox until then (you know, to hold up appearances), that would be cool too.