Morning Flurries: Nate Clurman signs for another year

All Avalanche

• Another minuscule piece of business for the Colorado Avalanche before they closed out the month of May in re-signing defenseman Nate Clurman for one more year. The Colorado native doesn’t get much of a raise as he only negotiated $100K in minor league pay. Due to the fact he was arbitration eligible it makes sense for the Avalanche to get this contract out of the way early, in similar vein as Cal Burke, to tie up loose ends and mitigate the potential arbitration filings from minor league players hoping to leverage more guaranteed money on a two-way contract.

• One RFA who apparently won’t be back is Sampo Ranta who is going to play in Sweden for the next two seasons. [Mile High Hockey]
• Good luck to our Ball Arena roommates in Game 1 as the Denver Nuggets hope to win their first ever NBA Championship!

Down Below

• Busy day in the NHL as the calendar turns to June with the naming of several new General Managers. Rumors are getting hotter on the Kyle Dubas to Pittsburgh front. It is also expected that Brad Treliving will have his introductory press conference today in Toronto as the new man in charge of the Maple Leafs.

• Ron Francis got rewarded with an extension for the work he’s put in as GM of the Seattle Kraken through their first two seasons.

• It’s almost buyout season and if the Avalanche are going to get creative they are going to need to keep an eye on this group either for possible deals before a buyout to take on players for assets or as reclamation projects after. One idea I don’t mind is the thought of getting assets to take Anthony Mantha’s last year.