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The Colorado Avalanche announced yesterday that the team has re-signed goaltender Joe Cannata as well as added forwards Scott Kosmachuk and Sheldon Dries. All three players were signed to one-year contracts.
Cannata, spent most of the 2017-18 season with the Colorado Eagles, where he posted a 21-5-2 record, a 2.22 goals-against average and an ECHL leading .931 save percentage. The 28-year old recorded a 2.55 goals-against average and a .913 save percentage in 24 playoff games to help the Eagles win their second-straight Kelly Cup.
He was called up to the AHL and played in five games for the San Antonio Rampage, where he went 3-0-1 with a 1.84 goals-against average and .920 save percentage. Thanks to the addition of Pavel Francouz to the organization, Cannata will drop down the team’s depth chart one slot. As things sit now, he will likely battle with Spencer Martin for the backup role with the Eagles this season, but odds are that he ends up spending most of the season starting for the new ECHL affiliate Utah Grizzlies.
In addition to Cannata, the Avalanche added two forwards that should serve as depth for the Eagles as they make the jump to the AHL.
Sheldon Dries is a 24-year center that spent last season playing for the Texas Stars. Last season as a rookie, Dries scored 19 goals in 70 games. The 5’9” Western Michigan alum caught fire in the playoffs adding another 10 goals. His contract will be a one-year entry level contract.
Pretty goal by Sheldon Dries in OT tonight for Texas Stars. Goal of the year candidate pic.twitter.com/kkUNsaNHPB
— Sean Shapiro (@seanshapiro) December 9, 2017
The team also signed 24-year old Scott Kosmachuk. A 3rd round pick by the Winnipeg Jets in 2012, Kosmachuk spent last season playing with the Hartford Wolfpack of the AHL. In 70 games, the Richmond Hill, Ontario native recorded 42 points and 77 penalty minutes.
A star during his final season with the Guelph Storm of the OHL, Kosmachuk is the kind of player that has the hands and smarts, but just doesn’t have the feet to be an NHLer. He’s also going to add a little toughness to the Eagles lineup. There’s a very good chance he becomes a fan favorite in Loveland pretty quickly.