The Burgundy Brigade has a deal for you! Here's the quick link to buy tickets: http://www.pepsicenter.com/groups/avalanche/bb210/

There's also a promo through TiqIQ, MHH's ticket partner where you can get a lower bowl "4-star" ticket for $59 using their "make an offer" feature. This particular deal is good through 11 eastern tonight (Thursday) and can be accessed through the following link: http://tiqiq.us/7ez

The NHL trade deadline is nearly four weeks away and ever since the new Collective Bargaining Agreement the Avs strategy has shifted considerably when it comes to deadline deals. Back in the "good ol' days", the Avs roster was so stacked it generally only needed a piece here or there to make a serious run into the Stanley Cup Playoffs. Probably one of the most famous trade was the one which brought Ray Bourque to the Denver and landed the Hall of Fame defenseman his first and only Stanley Cup in his illustrious NHL career.

As you all know, with the introduction of the salary cap, those days are long gone. Some believe the salary cap is the primary reason the Avalanche have had such a hard fall from grace. Not being able to buy superstars at the deadline and make that push at the end of the season and win a championship. While I do think this has had something to do with our mediocre, at best, team it's not the main reason.

Ever since his retirement the Avalanche have been looking for that "go to guy" in net. The team has had some great goaltending since Roy, but nothing near the caliber of a Patrick Roy. We thought we had something in the neighborhood when the team signed Craig Anderson back on July 1, 2009. Turns out we didn't.

If you go back and look at the rosters of our team from the first season until the lockout, you could literally fill half of an All-Star team roster with the players in Burgundy and Blue. They all couldn't play forever no matter how much we wished they could. I really feel the team actually started it's decline following 2002-03, Patrick Roy's last season with the Avs. All of those years with trading away draft picks was going to come back and haunt us. It wasn't entirely known, at the time, to what extent though.

On July 1, 2011 Avs GM Greg Sherman did something the Avs had only done once (2008 to bring back Adam Foote) since the lockout, trade away a first round draft pick. This time he traded it to the Washington Capitals for goalie Semyon Varlamov. To this day some people think the Avs paid too steep a price for the unproven Russian net minder. Especially with goalies, only time will tell whether the Avs "won" in this deal. In the mean time, it appears that most people's fear of the Avs' 1st round pick being a lottery pick (top 5) will not happen.

This brings us to this year's trade deadline. The Avs currently sit in 9th place, just one point behind Northwest Division rival Minnesota. The playoffs are obviously well within reach, but does the front office of the Avs feel they are one, maybe two players away from making a serious run in the playoffs? Do they realize this team is literally packed to the rafters with young talent that should only need a couple years, at most, to really mature? Are they willing to jettison some of the team's overpaid talent *COUGH* Paul Stastny *COUGH* to get more draft picks, or more young talent? Over the next few weeks one thing is for sure, the rumor mill be turning at full speed.

What do you think the Avs should do? Trade some draft picks to make a serious run at the Cup? Continue to build for the future? Or hold what we've got and continue to build with the draft picks we have now?

From all of us here at Mile High Hockey, I'd like to wish all of you and your families a very Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!

It's time to party IRL with your Mile High Hockey brethren. We are meeting at Brooklyn's before the game against the Washington Capitals on Saturday, December 17, 2011. Puck drop is at 7:00 pm. It's suggested that you call Brooklyn's for reservations and/or get there early to ensure you get a seat. Be sure to mention that you want to sit in the Burgundy Brigade section if you call.

The best part about the MHH Meet Up this time around is that we will be having some special guests. The Eurolanche folks will be in town on their 4th Eurolanche Invasion! They hit the states on December 14, 2011, and will travel to a number of cities to watch our boys. It would be great if you could all come out and say, "Hi!"

Another special guest is our very own Sandie Gauthier! She's crossing the border - legally, we believe - and making an appearance here in Denver to see a couple of games. If you're really nice to her, she might bring you some cupcakes.

The Burgundy Brigade will also be joining us, and they're offering a great deal for the game with their monthly ticket offer. If you haven't already joined the Brigade, make sure you visit their registration page and show the Avalanche we have an enthusiastic fan base once again. Oh, and the Brigade also offers kick ass deals on tickets and the opportunity to wear a seriously sweet Uller. Here are the details for the Caps' game:

Brooklyn's would like to get an estimated headcount for the pre-game meet up Saturday, December 17th, prior to the Capitals game. The game starts at 7 pm. Special guests include the Eurolanche guys and Sandie! Who's in?

UPDATE: We're still running low on ticket sales right now, folks. If we don't get to 200, we won't get to play. At last count, we were at 71. This is definitely an improvement from last week, but we still have a ways to go. PLEASE help us out and spread the word! Even if you can't make it to the Avs' game, maybe your coworkers, friends, family members, enemies can. Also, I only have 9 players on the roster, so there is still room for people to sign up and play. For anyone who plays, we are asking that you sell at least 5 tickets. Thanks so much for helping out. -Derek

By the way, here are the quick details for the tickets:

Colorado Avalanche vs. Los Angeles Kings

Sunday, October 30 - 6:00pm Puck Drop

 

TICKET INFORMATION

Lower Level Corner/End - $55 per seat (Normally up to $112)

Club Level Corner/End - $55 (Normally up to $115)

Upper Level Corner - $27 (Normally $40)

ORDER TICKETS AT:

 

http://www.pepsicenter.com/groups/avalanche/avsguildvsmhh

A few weeks ago we put up an article about the upcoming hockey game at Pepsi Center between the 2 rival blogs. Well, now we have the ticket purchasing information to make the game happen. If you click here:  MHH v Avs Guild you will be taken to a PDF of the flier which contains the link for the exclusive discount for Mile High Hockey readers. You can get lower level and club level seats normally priced at $115 for the low price of $55. You can also purchase upper level tickets normally priced at $40 for $27.

To answer some of the general questions from last year, you do not have to purchase tickets (although it is HIGHLY encouraged to help us make this game happen) to come and watch us play. We will be taking the ice promptly at 3pm so please be at the main entrance to the Pepsi Center no later than 2pm so we can be escorted to the locker room and get changed and ready for the game. All hockey bags will be searched prior to heading into the arena. While I fully expect redemption and a victory this year, all beer drinking will have to wait until after the game when we all go over to Brooklyn's to celebrate our win and take advantage of a special discount on our bill there.

All family, friends, and readers of Mile High Hockey 18 years of age and up are eligible to play in the game. As you know Team Mile High Hockey will required to sell a minimum of 75 tickets for the game to happen. It came down to the wire last year and I'm hoping that we are going to blow that number out of the water this year. If you aren't going to play, I would also ask you to please feel free to print out the flier and take it to school or work. In order for your friends and co-workers are also eligible for this amazing deal on tickets, they MUST go to the link provided in order for us to get credit for them purchasing tickets.

To sign up to play, please email me using the little envelope next to my name at the bottom of this page. I will take as many players as I can, but in order to get everyone as much playing time as possible I will limit the roster to 15 players and 1 goalie (me). So what are you waiting for, go! I look forward to seeing everyone on Sunday the 30th!

If you have any questions, please feel free to email me or ask them in the comments below.

http://www.pepsicenter.com/groups/avalanche/avsguildvsmhh

Okay. After much whining inquiring, the pre-Opening Night/Forsberg Retirement Ceremony/Red Wings Suck Ass game details have been set.

Before we toast Peter Forsberg and welcome the new season, come on over for some eats and drinks with your fellow MHHers. We are joining forces with the Avalanche Guild and Burgundy Brigade this year for our pregame celebrations, so there should be a lot of us. In fact, there may be more peeps than seats, so earlier is better. We will be upstairs at Brooklyn's.

For those who don't know, Brooklyn's is a traditional pregame spot for Avs fans. It's located right next to the Pepsi Center. Web site: http://www.brooklynsrestaurants.com/. Map: