The Avalanche is nearing decision day on rookie left wing Wojtek Wolski.
Wolski played his ninth game of the season Tuesday against the Edmonton Oilers, giving him one more game of NHL eligibility before the Avs must either keep him for the rest of the season or send him back to junior for the rest of the season.
Because he is only 19, Wolski is not eligible to play minor-pro hockey this season. The betting line is Wolski will be sent back to Brampton of the Ontario Hockey League, as Avs coach Joel Quenneville offered only a lukewarm endorsement of his play so far.
But that was a day before Wolski scored his second goal of the season and sixth point, in Colorado’s 5-3 victory over Edmonton.
Wolski entered the game a minus-5.
“He’s been OK,” Quenneville said Monday. “That’s a decision we’ll visit in the next couple days. He’s a special kid that we feel is going to have a nice career ahead of him. We’ll do what’s best for him.”
Wolski’s contract also could be a factor in him being sent down. He is making $984,200. Wolski played on a line with Pierre Turgeon and Marek Svatos against the Oilers.
Loud and clear
For the first time at an Avalanche home game this season, the referees wore microphones to announce penalties to the crowd. The NHL, like the NFL, will have referees do so the rest of the season.
Footnotes
Avs right wing Dan Hinote missed another game because of back spasms. … Former Avs center Darby Hendrickson is playing for Salzburg in the Austrian League this season. … Defensemen Bob Boughner and Kurt Sauer were the healthy scratches for Colorado. It was Boughner’s third straight healthy scratch, and the fourth straight for Sauer.
