Avalanche Weekly

by David Driscoll-Carignan on Jul 19, 2010 6:53 AM MDT in Avalanche Weekly

Yes, dear readers, it is that time again. We're at the slow part of the season, and Avalanche news has slowed down to a trickle. Time to bring back Avalanche Weekly, a feature that highlights some Avalanche-related stories that may not have been noticed the first time around.

The Avs annual Burgundy & White intrasquad scrimmage will be September 20th in Broomfield (not the Air Force Academy). Tickets are on sale now (Tickethorse), although there was a little glitch at the beginning. (Anyone But Detroit).

This was linked the other day, but it bears another look. John Canario at Hockey's Future has a generally favorable review of the Avs' recent draft. (Hockey's Future)

In case you missed it, former Brian Willsie's 2nd stint with the Avs is over. He signed with the Capitals last week. That would be stint #2 with Washington. (Washington Post).

Speaking of Washington, Ray Bourque's son Chris is headed to the KHL. (Washington Post).

And speaking of former Avs, the Blues inked T.J. Hensick to a 1-year deal (USA Today). What's odd is that the $600,000 deal would represent less than his qualifying offer (Hensick made $850,000 last year). Then again, his $105,000 AHL salary is a healthy raise from the $65,000 he made playing for Lake Erie last year.

Meanwhile, Peter Mueller and Chris Stewart are still unsigned. (All Things Avs)

Is there any rhyme or reason to AHL salaries? Scrolling through capgeek, it seems like there's some pretty big disparities in the deals to the new Monsters. Greg Mauldin is making $150K. Ben Walter and David Van der Gulik will pull down $135K. Meanwhile, Philippe Dupuis is making $75k and Julian Talbot is making just $62k. Poor Ray Macias is getting $50,000 while new signee David Liffiton is making almost double ($95,000). And I'm not sure if this means anything, but both John Grahame and Jason Bacashihua will make $75,000 to play in Cleveland next year. (Capgeek)

Former Av Tyler Weiman's AHL salary is $105,000. Ryan Boulding breaks down why he left. (Burgundy Blog)

Just in case you thought the Kroenke treatment was unique to Avalanche fans, here's an open letter to Stan Kroenke from a Nugget fan (Denver Stiffs).

Denver residents are getting yet another sports radio channel. Four? Really? (Denver Post)

Pavol Demitra - a guy I thought might be worth a look this summer - is headed to the KHL. He'll be doing the Lokomotiv for Yaroslavl - Daniel Tjarnqvist's team. (TSN)

Demitra's former Canuck teammate Kevin Bieksa is expected to be traded soon. (Nucks Misconduct)

Remember when we talked about former Lightning GM Jay Feaster as a potential candidate for the Avalanche job (if the Avs were to ever look outside the organization for talent)? He is the new Assistant GM in Calgary. (Matchsticks and Gasoline).

Mikko Koivu signed a 7 year extension at $6.75 million per season. Apparently, there was some backlash at that contract being to high. Personally, I think that's a bargain. (Hockey Wilderness).

The good news? The Oilers no longer have the best playoff record since the lockout. The bad news? Only 11 teams have fewer post-lockout playoff wins than the Avs. (Copper & Blue).

Finally, the following former Avs are still looking for work this summer: There may be more, but that's a big enough list for now.

Tweet Comment 59 comments | 0 recs |

Do you like this story?

Comments

Finally, the following former Avs are still looking for work this summer:

I SAY WE PICK UP THE LOT OF ’EM

The 09/10 Colorado Rockies: Starring Johnny Herrera as THE ANSWER
THIS IS BUFFALO NATION GODZILLA HAS AWAKEN - abayarde
SBNation Denver: Because the Rapids are people too!
Burgundy Wave: My Rapids Blog

by UZ on Jul 19, 2010 7:40 AM MDT reply actions

add the value of all the guys on that list and maybe we’ll make cap floor!

by Cole D Hamilton on Jul 19, 2010 7:51 AM MDT up reply actions

And

The AVs are still below the Cap Floor and still ranked with some of the highest Ticket prices!!!

Let the new season begin already!!!

by BryceLeo on Jul 19, 2010 7:55 AM MDT reply actions

and in our family quest to stay below our personal cap floor

we have decided not to purchase the 14 game pack this year. I told my husband I resent the fact that the Avs are still below the cap floor, spending the least amount of money possible on the team, but refusing to pass that savings on to fans. All last year, I would watch a group of 4 sit right behind us with their personal pizza, knowing full well they just paid half of what we did for tickets, plus they got food too. So, we are going to take our chances and pick and choose games we want to go to based on individual game deals and whether the seats are decent. If not, then we will enjoy the game in the comfort of our own home where we don’t have to spend $7.00 on nachos.

Oh, and PS, has anyone other than me had difficulty getting into this site. All last week it kept handing up on me?!?

2009-2010 Colorado Avalanche: Now with Playoff Goodness!

by hockeymom on Jul 19, 2010 8:04 AM MDT up reply actions 1 recs

That makes sense. It would really tick me off too.

I had trouble on Friday, but other than that it’s been okay.

by Mrs @ MHH on Jul 19, 2010 8:07 AM MDT up reply actions

It was locking up my computer at home and work all last week. I switched from IE8 to Firefox and it worked with no problems. I went back to IE8, cleared the cache and it worked fine after that.

by BrianD on Jul 19, 2010 8:09 AM MDT up reply actions

Am I the only one who never buys food or drink at sporting events?

by UZ on Jul 19, 2010 8:10 AM MDT up reply actions

Yes

:-)

by Mrs @ MHH on Jul 19, 2010 8:12 AM MDT up reply actions

I rarely by food/drinks. If I have my kids then I have to buy popcorn, nachos, or cotton candy. I might buy a drink…

MHH: The Burgundy Army is on the March!

I'm The Canary - but I'm not cute nor cuddly, and I don't sing.

by Americanario on Jul 19, 2010 8:36 AM MDT up reply actions

that’s us; especially when we have had to quck leave our son’s hockey practice/game to get to the Avs game, and he is starving.

2009-2010 Colorado Avalanche: Now with Playoff Goodness!

by hockeymom on Jul 19, 2010 9:28 AM MDT up reply actions

Nope

I never buy food. Occasionally I’ll buy one beer and that’s it.

by toothandnailer777 on Jul 19, 2010 10:20 AM MDT up reply actions

I had troubles too, but I thought it was just my funky setup (firefox with IE Tab add on). When I stopped rendering the page in IE, my troubles seemed to go away.

Assistant *to* the Managing Editor, Mile High Hockey

by David Driscoll-Carignan on Jul 19, 2010 8:13 AM MDT up reply actions

good for you. and when they call to ask why you didn’t purchase, I hope you tell them

Assistant *to* the Managing Editor, Mile High Hockey

by David Driscoll-Carignan on Jul 19, 2010 8:14 AM MDT up reply actions

I don’t think they call. We went from 2 seats on the glass to 8 rows back (a huge chunk of change) and didn’t hear a peep from anyone at the pepsi center, wouldn’t you try to at least try to talk us out of it or offer to take a small chunk of change off?

Are you forgetting that I was a professional twice over - an analyst and a therapist. The world's first analrapist.

by An Unmitigated Disaster on Jul 19, 2010 11:32 AM MDT up reply actions

just assumed. when we stopped our Manchester Monarchs season tickets, we got several calls and letters with offers to win us back.

Assistant *to* the Managing Editor, Mile High Hockey

by David Driscoll-Carignan on Jul 19, 2010 1:11 PM MDT up reply actions

i’m very surprised that they did nothing

Are you forgetting that I was a professional twice over - an analyst and a therapist. The world's first analrapist.

by An Unmitigated Disaster on Jul 19, 2010 1:49 PM MDT up reply actions

We’re getting calls from the OKC Barons and all we did was fill our an interest form online. Of course they’re just getting started so they may be desperate.

by Mrs @ MHH on Jul 19, 2010 2:52 PM MDT up reply actions

What you & DDC aren't realizing,

is that this organ-I-zation, in contrast to the aforementioned AHL squads, lacks one of those, whatchamacallits…. marketing departments.

Colorado Avalanche Offseason Strategy - Please wake us in October

by Hopfenkopf on Jul 19, 2010 9:41 PM MDT up reply actions

Well

Unfortunatly i am not in Colorado anymore I am in NC and I went to the AVs vs Canes game last year had seats 4 rows from the ice and the tickets cost me $65 a piece.

Let the new season begin already!!!

by BryceLeo on Jul 19, 2010 8:14 AM MDT up reply actions

We do individual game tickets too and it works out a lot better than the 14 pack. I usually don’t really care who we’re playing so much as I am concerned about the price though. Then again, we went to both Blackhawks games last year for pretty cheap and now have a solid collection of XXXXXL “Guys night out shirts”. On a couple of occasions I managed to find lower bowl seats on stubhub for $25-$30 a piece.

by MalachiConstant on Jul 19, 2010 8:24 AM MDT up reply actions

what I don’t understand with the Avs thinking is this: in our case, you have 3 people committed to purchasing tickets for 14 games. Wouldn’t you want to give them a “bulk” discount. Stan obviously doesn’t shop at Sam’s Club.

2009-2010 Colorado Avalanche: Now with Playoff Goodness!

by hockeymom on Jul 19, 2010 9:31 AM MDT up reply actions

Yeah, I totally agree

An even bigger grumble of mine though, is why they don’t discount tickets to games they know aren’t going to sell out? They could even do it late-notice, or to special groups like military or students, or make random offers to past customers. Anything to put more people in the seats. Offer me a $10-$15 ticket and I’m going to be there nearly every time. I guess the thinking is it might hurt season ticket sales, but it doesn’t seem as though they think very hard about it.

by MalachiConstant on Jul 19, 2010 9:39 AM MDT up reply actions

There have been student discount games, but are only announced in the University/College’s print media. I went to the Rangers game for $10 with no ticket charge.

by toothandnailer777 on Jul 19, 2010 10:21 AM MDT up reply actions

OH and there are Military discounts, but they don’t announce them. You have to call and ask them how that works, though.

by toothandnailer777 on Jul 19, 2010 10:22 AM MDT up reply actions

Make sure the Avs marketing department knows about this. Oh wait, they don’t have one.

Running-dog lackey counter-revolutionary malcontent, Not an expert.

by Busted Twigg on Jul 19, 2010 12:56 PM MDT up reply actions

Beachie hasn’t been hired yet?

MHH: The Burgundy Army is on the March!

I'm The Canary - but I'm not cute nor cuddly, and I don't sing.

by Americanario on Jul 19, 2010 1:13 PM MDT up reply actions

The tickethorse fail was pretty annoying. I was a couple minutes away from heading to Dick’s Sporting Goods.

by MalachiConstant on Jul 19, 2010 8:00 AM MDT reply actions

the horror! :)

Assistant *to* the Managing Editor, Mile High Hockey

by David Driscoll-Carignan on Jul 19, 2010 8:03 AM MDT up reply actions

Well… it was (and still is) seriously hot outside. The 5-minute drive would have been mildly annoying. But now I have 7th row, center ice tickets which I am incredibly stoked about. $10 a ticket? Who would think the Avalanche organization is capable of offering such a low price?

by MalachiConstant on Jul 19, 2010 8:19 AM MDT up reply actions

Yeah

unlike you East Coasters, when we hit 100ºF we don’t get 70 hours of media coverage bitching and whining about how goddamned hot it is outside.

Intelligent opinion does not follow the transitive property
Jibblescribbits: C'mon over and waste some time

by Jibblescribbits on Jul 19, 2010 8:36 AM MDT up reply actions

To be fair

100^0 F on the east coast is waaaay worse than the same temperature here in Colorado. In fact, I’d rather be here at 100^0 F than in the Southeast at 90 or even 85.

P.S. How do you type the degree F symbol like that?

by MalachiConstant on Jul 19, 2010 8:48 AM MDT up reply actions

Thanks for the SE mention, ‘cause it’s so true! People out here in Oklahoma complain ‘cause for just the past week it’s been 96 with a heat index of 106. Growing up in Alabama and going to school in Mississippi that’s the norm for the whole summer! It’ll have hit the heat index by 6:30 in the morning.

And don’t even get me started on it being “humid” here in OK. ‘Cause it’s not even close!

by Mrs @ MHH on Jul 19, 2010 8:51 AM MDT up reply actions

no bitching about the heat from me. This Barstow boy doesn’t mind oppressive heat

Assistant *to* the Managing Editor, Mile High Hockey

by David Driscoll-Carignan on Jul 19, 2010 8:53 AM MDT up reply actions

I’m particularly sensitive about it because I had to wear a Tuxedo in 100º heat Saturday. I don’t care how humid it is (or isn’t) it was hot as hell.

I’ve been in the heat with humidity (it got to 95º a few times in Columbus while I was there.) I know it’s worse, but it’s not quite as bad as everyone out there (East) makes it seem. I think the biggest difference is that in dry conditions it actually cools off in the evening to a very pleasant temperature.

Oh, and º is Alt+167 on the number pad.

Intelligent opinion does not follow the transitive property
Jibblescribbits: C'mon over and waste some time

by Jibblescribbits on Jul 19, 2010 8:58 AM MDT up reply actions

Hot is relative, I don’t start complaining here until it gets above 110º.
It’s supposed to hit 114º today.

MHH: The Burgundy Army is on the March!

I'm The Canary - but I'm not cute nor cuddly, and I don't sing.

by Americanario on Jul 19, 2010 9:07 AM MDT up reply actions

I don’t normally bitch about the heat. I’ve been in 120º heat, it’s miserable but people live through it every day in places all over the world. But man, Saturday in a tux was just brutal for me.

Intelligent opinion does not follow the transitive property
Jibblescribbits: C'mon over and waste some time

by Jibblescribbits on Jul 19, 2010 9:14 AM MDT up reply actions

Oh we’ve been there. Mike was in a wedding in the MS Delta in July about 8 years ago. Old Methodist church with no AC, just those creaky ceiling fans, followed by an outside reception. And of course they were the full on wool tuxedos. It was miserable.

by Mrs @ MHH on Jul 19, 2010 9:30 AM MDT up reply actions

at some point the humitidy doesn’t matter. Hot is hot.

Are you forgetting that I was a professional twice over - an analyst and a therapist. The world's first analrapist.

by An Unmitigated Disaster on Jul 19, 2010 11:33 AM MDT up reply actions

Oh I still complain when it’s hot here in CO but I used to have to wear a full suit to work everyday in Tallahassee, FL where, as Mrs. points out, the hottest day of the year here is pretty much the norm nearly 8 months out of the year in the SE. So even when I complain in the midst of 100º here, there is still a small part of me smiling on the inside that I’m not in the SE.

And thanks.

by MalachiConstant on Jul 19, 2010 9:19 AM MDT up reply actions

Oh, and º is Alt+167 on the number pad

Is there a cheat sheet somewhere that has a list with these kinds of things so I don’t have to memorize this or how to do the funky O thing with Holos?

MHH- A drinking site with a hockey problem

Detroit Sucks

by TheRed on Jul 19, 2010 8:18 PM MDT up reply actions

I do a lot of temperature and engineering testing at work, so I know a couple by heart (º, µ, ², ±) but I just went through one day and did all of them up to about 500 (they start repeating at one point) and wrote down the more important ones, well for me.

I have a semi-cheat sheet at work, i’ll post a link tomorrow

Intelligent opinion does not follow the transitive property
Jibblescribbits: C'mon over and waste some time

by Jibblescribbits on Jul 19, 2010 8:29 PM MDT up reply actions

Found one

http://tlt.its.psu.edu/suggestions/international/accents/codealt.html

MHH- A drinking site with a hockey problem

Detroit Sucks

by TheRed on Jul 20, 2010 9:09 PM MDT up reply actions

Sweet

I’m now Än Ünmitigated Disastër.

Are you forgetting that I was a professional twice over - an analyst and a therapist. The world's first analrapist.

by An Unmitigated Disaster on Jul 21, 2010 10:17 AM MDT up reply actions

hmm

those don’t seem to be right. Example Alt+248 is ° and Alt+216 is ╪. both are supposed to be o/ and O/

also their math codes are really off. ± is Alt+241 but that sheet says that it’s not…

Intelligent opinion does not follow the transitive property
Jibblescribbits: C'mon over and waste some time

by Jibblescribbits on Jul 21, 2010 11:02 AM MDT up reply actions

but

since i use international keyboard, those codes are right …

Intelligent opinion does not follow the transitive property
Jibblescribbits: C'mon over and waste some time

by Jibblescribbits on Jul 21, 2010 11:04 AM MDT up reply actions

I know J Feaster had deep ties to PL. Feaster said in a interview that PL told him he was being considered but there was no point in sending him a resume (because he already knew him so well). The fact that PL know him well and still passed on him pretty much says he thought Sherman could do a better job with the support cast in hand.

by mcarson01 on Jul 19, 2010 9:22 AM MDT reply actions

Assistant *to* the Managing Editor, Mile High Hockey

by David Driscoll-Carignan on Jul 19, 2010 9:27 AM MDT up reply actions

Ooooh

He’s been stylized!

Sandie

"We called him Clark Kent because away from the rink, he was just a nerd. Then he'd go into the Colorado dressing room and put on his Avs jersey, and all of a sudden he was Super Joe"- Theo Fleury

by Sandie Gauthier on Jul 19, 2010 9:30 AM MDT up reply actions