As mentioned in other posts, the Avalanche have signed goaltender Cedrick Desjardins and forward Evan Brophey to one-year contracts. Both are expected to start the season in Lake Erie.
Desjardins, 25, made his NHL debut in 2010-11, appearing in two games for the Tampa Bay Lightning. He won both of his starts, allowing just one goal in each game (1.00 goals-against average, .968 save percentage). The Edmundston, New Brunswick native spent most of the year with Tampa Bay’s American Hockey League affiliate, the Norfolk Admirals, where he posted a 15-6-1 record with a 2.59 GAA and .905 Sv% in 24 appearances.
Brophey, 24, also made his NHL debut in 2010-11, playing one game for the Chicago Blackhawks on Oct. 23 against Columbus. He spent most of the year with the Rockford IceDogs (AHL), collecting 19 points (10g/9a) and 65 penalty minutes in 67 games. Chicago’s fourth selection (third round, 68th overall) in the 2005 Entry Draft, the Kitchener, Ontario native has spent the last four seasons with Rockford. The 6-foot-2, 199-pound forward tallied 107 points (36g/71a) in 68 games with the Plymouth Whalers (OHL) during his final season of junior hockey in 2006-07.
The Avalanche have also come to terms with defenseman David Liffiton and forwards Greg Mauldin, Justin Mercier, and David van der Gulik, all to one-year deals for $525,000. Ryan Stoa was also signed to a one-year contract ($803,250). Stoa and Mercier will be RFAs at the close of the 2011-2012 season. The others will be UFAs.
UPDATE: The Avalanche have announced on their official website they have re-signed F Kevin Porter and D Ryan Wilson to 1-year contracts. With this news, the Avalanche will avoid heading to arbitration with both players.
“We are pleased to have both Kevin and Ryan under contract,” said Avalanche General Manager/ Executive Vice President Greg Sherman. “We look forward to seeing them at training camp.”
Per the Denver Post, Porter's contract will be for $850K and Wilson's for $1.25 million.
UPDATE AGAIN: Some more news released today as the Avalanche have also reportedly signed F Patrick Rissmiller to a 1 year, two-way contract worth $525k if he makes the NHL club. Basically all confirmation is on Twitter right now, which has unintentionally become the home of all NHL news. Links provided when something more than Twitter shows up.