Top 5 Avalanche UFAs Still Available
by David Driscoll-Carignan on Sep 6, 2010 6:00 AM MDT
in Avalanche News & Notes
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PrintIt's Labor Day here in the US and Labour Day up in Canada (it's pretty much the same thing, but one has more vowels). With most of our readers enjoying a day off from work today - including yours truly - I thought I'd take a look at five of last years Avalanche players still looking for employment this offseason.
#5 D Tom Preissing. Preissing seems light years away from the guy in 2005 who scored 43 points in San Jose while playing over 20 minutes a game. He was unimpressive in 4 games with the Avalanche last year but did put up good numbers with the Avs' AHL affiliate, scoring 31 points in 49 games with Lake Erie. Sadly, Preissing was bought out by Colorado a move we think was done in order to eat cap space and help get the Avalanche to the cap floor.
#4 F Darcy Tucker. Snicker all you want, but Tucker has 14 years and 476 more NHL points than you do. The 35-year old didn't play up to his $2.25 million yearly salary in Colorado but it certainly could be worse; he eats $1 million of the Maple Leafs cap space for each of the next 4 years. Tucker was reportedly a solid locker room presence and a mentor to his basement tenent, Ryan O'Reilly, factors which may still help him find employment in the fall. He needs just 53 more games to hit 1,000 in his career.
#3 F Stephane Yelle. Yelle is even closer to the 1,000-game mark (just 9 away), but the old fan favorite looked like a guy nearing the end of his career after he was re-acquired at the deadline last March. We've speculated here that Yelle may be thinking about retirement, but with no announcement yet it would seem that Old Yeller isn't quite ready to hang them up yet.
#2 F Matt Hendricks. Hendricks is the one player on this list that we know the Avalanche attempted to re-sign, but the two sides couldn't reach an agreement. Considering Hendricks made $500,000 last year, you have to wonder just what sort of raise he was looking for. The Avalanche have already reassigned his jersey number to Zach Cohen (all five players on this list have had their old number given away), a strong indication that there's little chance that the truculent forward will return.
#1 F Marek Svatos. Yes, last season was an utter disaster for the Svatos; 11 points in 54 games just isn't going to cut it. The former 30-goal scorer does have chops, though, and I'm a little surprised Svatos hasn't found a home yet - either here in North America or in Europe. There have been rumors lately of Svatos landing in Pittsburgh but those have yet to come to fruition.
Have a great Monday, everyone!
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At this point of the summer, with camp just around the corner I wouldn’t be too opposed to the organ-I-zation re-signing Svatos to a 2-way deal, maybe starting in the AHL and getting called up in case of an injury would light a fire under his arse. The depth at forward (or lack thereof) still scares me. But the fact that his number has been taken is a pretty good indicator that the Avs aren’t even remotely interested…
Yelle, it would be nice to see him as a depth signing, get his 1,000 games, he’s probably still more useful than Koci and he’ll always be an Av.
Tucker, if he could just stay on his feet, maybe he’d be OK as another depth signing, just in case of injury, at league minimum, just to give O’Reilly a place to live another year……oh who am I kidding?
MHH: The Burgundy Army is on the March!
I'm The Canary - but I'm not cute nor cuddly, and I don't sing.
I would go for either of your first two proposals.
I know Svats had a major dropoff in his numbers and is probably a liability, I just always liked him and am still kinda sad to see him go. This is why I could never be the GM, I make my decisions way to emotionally.
Same with Yelle, I want him just for nostalgia sake. I know that’s no way to build a hockey team, but still…
LOL@ Tucker. Yeah, never got attatched to that one.
"That F******* sandwich had it coming!" -Mike@MHH
That's pretty much how Darryl Sutter runs the Flames.
A snake taking the pass - Silver Seven
by Ryan Classic on Sep 6, 2010 3:53 PM MDT up reply actions 1 recs
+1
Mathew Barnaby to Lyle Odelein: "Cornelius, as we like to call him, gets under your skin. Planet of the Apes. Look at him. Seriously. He looks like Cornelious."
Odelein to Barnaby: "He should take a look at his wife. She's God-awful to look at."
by RolliePollieKovy on Sep 6, 2010 5:06 PM MDT up reply actions
I think he just hasn’t bought any NHL games since 03’.
Svatos’ best hope is that someone takes a flier on him like Afinagenov in atl last year…other than that it’s the KHL rought for him. Although he should not sign with the team that has tralor on it, that’s when his #’s really nosed dived with that idiot.
Homer no function beer well without.
by An Unmitigated Disaster on Sep 6, 2010 5:08 PM MDT up reply actions
I'd be OK with Svats starting in the AHL, as depth.
Dear Colorado Avalanche: Thank you for the excitement, see you in October.
With Mike Comrie having just signed in Pittsburgh for the league minimum, I don’t think that we’ll see any truth to the Svatos to Pittsburgh rumors. I think that Comrie was a smarter signing for the Penguins than Svatos would’ve been. He can play wing or center, which gives the Penguins the roster flexibility that they need. The guys over at Pensburgh are already talking about him potentially playing RW on Crosby’s line. But, worst case scenario, with Staal and Malkin expected to play on the second line together, Comrie can be shifted down to the third line center spot.
We'll take Svatos here
Be a nice third liner with a 600,000 dollar contract. You guys take Rolston and we’ll take Svatos and that PUCK.
Mathew Barnaby to Lyle Odelein: "Cornelius, as we like to call him, gets under your skin. Planet of the Apes. Look at him. Seriously. He looks like Cornelious."
Odelein to Barnaby: "He should take a look at his wife. She's God-awful to look at."
by RolliePollieKovy on Sep 6, 2010 5:07 PM MDT up reply actions
throw in urborn or tetenby and we can start talking.
Homer no function beer well without.
by An Unmitigated Disaster on Sep 6, 2010 5:12 PM MDT up reply actions
I’m absolutely with you on this one.
I just like the fights.
by Cheryl Bradley on Sep 6, 2010 8:46 PM MDT via mobile up reply actions
I’m not with you on this one Beachie!
by Pinchy The Lobster on Sep 6, 2010 9:01 PM MDT up reply actions
#5-No.
#4-Hell no.
#3-Wouldn’t hurt my feelings.
#2-Hell yes.
#1-No. No. No.
And They Shall Know No Fear.
What? Doc’s wearing tight pants?
MHH- A drinking site with a hockey problem
Hockeytown was a marketing invention to draw fans to a team that had less gate than the atlanta thrashers.
But you also see no harm in occasionally mixing vodka with marijuana, Idiot.
by Pinchy The Lobster on Sep 6, 2010 9:03 PM MDT up reply actions
you both have good points.
Homer no function beer well without.
by An Unmitigated Disaster on Sep 6, 2010 10:17 PM MDT up reply actions
I have to say I’m a big fan of Hendricks and his work ethic and would be glad to see him back. It’s just a shame the two sides couldn’t agree on his monetary value. I’d also take Yelle back for what would be his last season. If he wants to come back I’m sure he’d be willing to take whatever we offered him in the form of a 1 way contract. I’d love to have Yelle rightfully retire as an Av and to hit his 1,000 games played milestone. However the rest, i feel have worn out their welcome.
Oh and hello, this is my first ever post! I’ve been a long time caller first time reader. Wait, i think I screwed that up. Anyway, I apologize for the maturity of this post, I promise more childish behavior will ensue.
A puck is a hard rubber disc that hockey players strike when they can't hit one another. ~ Jimmy Cannon
Welcome!
And we’ll look for that promised lack of maturity in the coming season.
"That F******* sandwich had it coming!" -Mike@MHH
I am well aware that MHH has a standard to uphold and I will do my damnedest to maintain it.
A puck is a hard rubber disc that hockey players strike when they can't hit one another. ~ Jimmy Cannon
I’d like to clarify that my name Randy Time isn’t born from some sort of testosterone infused ego. It’s actually a nickname given to me by some coworkers where a friend of mine left some libel about me on a piece of equipment. The message read "Randy gave up on girls and now stalks little boys. He calls this Randy Time. " Sadly I’m perverted enough (nowhere close to being a pedo so no need to call the police) that the name has stuck.
A puck is a hard rubber disc that hockey players strike when they can't hit one another. ~ Jimmy Cannon
lol!
That is as good a reason as any to choose a screen name.
Hell, people think mine refers to the fact that I’m a girl and like the Avs ;)
"That F******* sandwich had it coming!" -Mike@MHH
similar to the standard that you attempt to uphold at your real job. Kinda loosely adhered too ;)
"That F******* sandwich had it coming!" -Mike@MHH
Hey hey now, I’m very professional when I’m on the air. It’s those other times where I have issues…
Help help! I'm being repressed!
They got’s that intertubes thing where you can listen to me sometime if you want. I’m a happening news stud! (And you are up that early. LOL)
Help help! I'm being repressed!
Tucking it back doesn’t count. Oh wow, there’s an epiphany! TUCKER!
A puck is a hard rubber disc that hockey players strike when they can't hit one another. ~ Jimmy Cannon
NOT a picture I needed….YIKES!
MHH: The Burgundy Army is on the March!
I'm The Canary - but I'm not cute nor cuddly, and I don't sing.
We prefer to think of it as a standard that must be held down, you know like that damned Red Wings fan that kept trying to get up as you drowned him in the toilet….
Perhaps I’ve revealed a bit much….
Colorado Avalanche Offseason Strategy - Please wake us in October
Is anyone going to pay hendricks? I bet he comes back for the same he was making last year.
Homer no function beer well without.
by An Unmitigated Disaster on Sep 7, 2010 11:23 AM MDT reply actions
I’d take him back.
I’m still pissed that they didn’t manage to re-sign him.
"That F******* sandwich had it coming!" -Mike@MHH
I bet a lot of 2nd-3rd-and forth liners thought they were going to get a little more then they’ve gotten. If they’re smart they’ll sign soon (Like Comrie) or they could be riding a bus in the minors.
Homer no function beer well without.
by An Unmitigated Disaster on Sep 7, 2010 12:32 PM MDT up reply actions
Sign Hendricks
Dear AVS,
Sign Matt Hendricks. Just give him $750.000 and call it good. We know he’s good for 10 goals, 10 assists and 10 fights. That’s damn good for a forth liner!
Thanks, The Fans
and unlike Koci, he might win those fights.
MHH: The Burgundy Army is on the March!
I'm The Canary - but I'm not cute nor cuddly, and I don't sing.
and unlike Koci, he might win those fights.
No, that was Svats.
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 Sep 8, 2010 8:55 PM MDT up reply actions
speaking of former avs getting signed, who had Wyatt Smith being signed before all those guys?
Homer no function beer well without.
by An Unmitigated Disaster on Sep 9, 2010 9:24 PM MDT reply actions
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