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Morning Flurries: Coaching changes and Expansion plans

It’s another beautiful morning in the Colorado Avalanche’s off-season. Let’s check in with some news and notes from around the league.

By Patrick J. McCabe
Colorado Avalanche v Vegas Golden Knights - Game Six Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images

Good morning Avalanche faithful!

We are one more day removed from the painful defeat at the hands of the Vegas Golden Knights, but the Montreal Canadiens will take care of that little issue for us...

- checks box score -

Never mind.

Maybe game two will go better for the Canadiens.

In the world of the Colorado Avalanche, much of the focus has shifted to protected lists, pending free agents and a pair of drafts that will shape the 2021-22 NHL season.

The Avalanche got a pretty big boost to their expansion draft plans, with defender Erik Johnson agreeing to waive his no-trade clause prior to the Seattle Kraken expansion draft. This allows GM Joe Sakic to protect seven forwards and three defenders; as opposed to eight skaters, without losing any of Cale Makar, Devon Toews or Samuel Girard.

There has also been further post-mortem discussion of the 25th anniversary season.

As well as a breakdown of some of the best moments from the season from Jackie Kay, right here on Mile High Hockey.

And as much as we hate to admit it, there’s still hockey going on, even if it doesn’t involve the Avalanche.

There was the aforementioned Golden Knights victory over the Canadiens. Vegas leads the series 1-0 with game two happening tonight.

The other series is off to an interesting start, with the Tampa Bay Lightning tying up the best of seven series with the New York Islanders at one game a piece. A 4-2 victory in game two that featured a three point game from Nikita Kucherov resets the series after a game one loss for the defending champs. Looks like it’s going to be a good series for neutral fans.

The New York Rangers hired a coach with ties to one of the remaining playoff squads. Former Vegas coach Gerard Gallant has been hired by the blue shirts on a sizable contract to help Artemi Panerin, Mika Zibanejad, Alexis LaFreniere and company attempt to bring a new banner to the rafters at Madison Square Garden.

Awards season is just underway as well, with a few pieces of hardware making their way into two very deserving sets of hands.

Until tomorrow, have a great day and Go Avs Go!