Morning Flurries: Colorado Avalanche get back to work

The bye week is over, now it’s time for the Colorado Avalanche to get back to work. When the team re-assembles for practice this morning, there will be a new face on the ice. Yesterday, the Avs recalled three players from the AHL, one of which is veteran defenseman David Warsofsky, who will get his first taste of the NHL after signing a two-way contract with the Avs this summer. [MHH]

In the past 48-hours, a lot has been made about the fact that Avalanche Cale Makar turned down an invitation to play for Team Canada at the Olympics next month. There are many fans and media members that have criticized the decision, but the fact is, Makar is a 19-year old kid that feels he’s better off going back to school and honoring his commitments there, rather than missing another three weeks to go and sit on a bench in South Korea.

Sportsnet’s Nick Kypreos put the whole situation in perspective here:

Speaking of Canada’s Olympic Men’s Hockey Team, the roster was announced yesterday and it is littered with names that will be very familiar to Avalanche fans. [Denver Post]

Around the NHL

We are now 45 days away from the NHL trade deadline so more and more names are floating into the rumor mill. TSN has put together their Trade Bait list - the top-20 players most likely to be moved before the deadline. Rentals like Mike Green and Evander Kane top the list and are almost certainly going to be traded, but down at number 20 is a very interesting name - Tyson Barrie. [TSN]

Big News out of Carolina yesterday as the sale of Hurricanes to Tom Dundon has been approved and finalized. Dundon will own a controlling share of the team as he was approved to purchase 61% of the team. [Canes Country]

In Tampa, there is some potentially very bad news for the league’s best team as Victor Hedman hobbled off the ice during their game against Calgary last night.

Hedman missed the rest of the game with a lower-body injury and no timetable has been given for his return. The 27-year old defenseman is the frontrunner for the Norris Trophy this year and the anchor of the blueline in Tampa. If he is out for any length of time, it would be a huge blow for the Lightning.