Mirtle compiled a list at the start of Free Agency of the top 100 players looking for a new contract/team. There are still a few notable players left, including capable winger Alex Tanguay and other former Avs including Derek Morris and Martin Skoula. And I think Stephane Yelle is still looking for work (correct me if I'm wrong, please).
Among Mirtle's list, there are a number of affordable vets that could add some experience to Colorado's wet-behind-the-ears band of prospects and youngsters.
| 2008-09 | |||||
| PLAYER | Pos | Age | TM | Cap hit | |
| 10 | TANGUAY, ALEX | LW | 29.6 | MTL | 5.250 |
| 13 | ZUBOV, SERGEI | D | 38.9 | DAL | 5.350 |
| 18 | BIRON, MARTIN | G | 31.9 | PHI | 3.500 |
| 21 | LANG, ROBERT | C | 38.5 | MTL | 4.000 |
| 29 | FERNANDEZ, MANNY | G | 34.8 | BOS | 4.333 |
| 32 | SUNDIN, MATS | C | 38.4 | VAN | 8.211 |
| 33 | SYKORA, PETR | RW | 32.6 | PIT | 2.500 |
| 35 | AXELSSON, P.J. | LW | 34.3 | BOS | 1.850 |
| 37 | MORRIS, DEREK | D | 30.8 | NYR | 3.917 |
| 42 | WILLIAMS, JASON | C | 28.9 | CBJ | 2.200 |
| 43 | PYATT, TAYLOR | LW | 27.9 | VAN | 1.575 |
| 46 | MALHOTRA, MANNY | C | 29.1 | CBJ | 1.200 |
| 47 | SHANAHAN, BRENDAN | LW | 40.4 | N.J | 0.800 |
| 48 | SEIDENBERG, DENNIS | D | 27.9 | CAR | 1.200 |
| 53 | MOORE, DOMINIC | C | 28.9 | BUF | 0.900 |
| 55 | COMRIE, MIKE | C | 28.8 | OTT | 4.000 |
| 62 | GERBER, MARTIN | G | 34.8 | TOR | 3.700 |
| 63 | SCHNEIDER, MATHIEU | D | 40.0 | MTL | 5.625 |
| 64 | CULLIMORE, JASSEN | D | 36.6 | FLA | 0.830 |
| 66 | HILBERT, ANDY | C | 28.4 | NYI | 0.675 |
| 68 | SATAN, MIROSLAV | RW | 34.7 | PIT | 3.500 |
| 69 | GRIER, MICHAEL | RW | 34.5 | S.J | 1.775 |
| 70 | SILLINGER, MICHAEL | C | 38.0 | NYI | 2.200 |
| 71 | PECA, MICHAEL | C | 35.3 | CBJ | 1.315 |
| 72 | BETTS, BLAIR | C | 29.4 | NYR | 0.615 |
| 75 | SKOULA, MARTIN | D | 29.7 | MIN | 1.800 |
| 78 | BERGERON, M-A | D | 28.7 | MIN | 1.254 |
| 80 | BOUILLON, FRANCIS | D | 33.7 | MTL | 1.875 |
| 81 | HEDICAN, BRET | D | 38.9 | ANA | 0.871 |
| 82 | NIEDERMAYER, ROB | C | 34.5 | ANA | 2.000 |
| 83 | PELTONEN, VILLE | LW | 36.1 | FLA | 1.100 |
| 86 | PERRIN, ERIC | C | 33.7 | ATL | 0.750 |
| 87 | AFINOGENOV, MAXIM | RW | 29.8 | BUF | 3.333 |
| 88 | BERTUZZI, TODD | RW | 34.4 | CGY | 1.950 |
| 90 | BOUCHER, PHILIPPE | D | 36.3 | PIT | 2.400 |
| 93 | BACKMAN, CHRISTIAN | D | 29.2 | CBJ | 2.300 |
| 95 | BONK, RADEK | C | 33.5 | NSH | 1.475 |
| 100 | BAYDA, RYAN | LW | 28.6 | CAR | 0.475 |
According to Avalanchedb.com, the Avs still have $5.7 million in cap space with which to work. Which (if any) of these players should they pursue? Should they trade away some big salaries to make room for any free agents?
And does Sykora want too much money after having a pretty solid year in Pittsburgh and winning a Cup? If he'd be willing to take $2.5 million again, I'd sign him. But that wasn't an open-ended question. Sorry.