November 12, 2007 12:00 AM
Money to burn?
Diane from Colorado Springs wonders what the Avalanche might do with its extra salary cap money ...
Q: It doesn't look like Peter Forsberg will be coming back to the Avs, so what are your recommendations for spending all that extra money? I like the way the team is playing this year. They're patient and, for the most part, haven't been forcing the play and taking ill-advised penalties. The combination of the veterans and the young kids is very gratifying. There is a lot of passion and fire that has been lacking in recent seasons. Keep up the great columns!
A: I've learned never to say never when it comes to trying to figure out what might happen with Forsberg. He certainly is frustrated with his chronic foot/ankle/skate ailment and is sounding like he's ready to call it a career. But he does want to play in the NHL and is likely to keep searching for a solution to the problem until he's told it's a futile cause.
The Avalanche is about $5 million under the league's $50.3 million salary cap, but that doesn't mean the team has to spend it. My guess is, as the Feb. 26 trading deadline approaches, general manager Francois Giguere will assess where the team is and what needs he has. I think the Avalanche should go after an in-your-face, stay-at-home defenseman, but who knows what will be available as the season progresses. Things are looking pretty good now, though.
Larry from Calgary is hearing trade rumors involving defenseman John-Michael Liles ...
Q: Here in Canada I've been hearing a lot of rumors about the Avs wanting to trade John-Michael Liles. Have you heard any of these rumors and if so do you think it is a possibility the Avs will deal him?
A: I've heard some rumors as well, but I don't know about the Avalanche wanting to deal him. As far as I'm concerned, it's all speculation due to the fact that Liles is in the final year of his contract and will be an unrestricted free agent July 1 unless he is given an extension. I talked to him in training camp about his contract situation, and he didn't seem too concerned about it. The Avalanche is the only NHL team he's played for and he'd like to stay, but it's pretty much out of his hands and he said he just wants to concentrate on hockey.
It is interesting that the Avalanche gave an extension to another defenseman, Brett Clark, in the offseason. If the Avalanche isn't going to re-sign Liles, it would make a lot of sense to deal him before the NHL trading deadline, which is Feb. 26. But until I get wind of something more concrete, these are just rumors and nothing more.
November 15, 2007
7:50 AM
Anthony writes:
"I think the Avalanche should go after an in-your-face, stay-at-home defenseman" - wasn't that supposed to be Scott Hannan?
I think Jeff Finger is doing a decent job of being that kind of player. He is by far the most physical player on the team. I would rather have him playing instead of Skrastins.