Next season could begin in six games for the Avalanche, a playoff longshot that figures to have a big offseason decision to make regarding its goaltending.
High-priced backup Jose Theodore is scheduled to make $6 million in 2007-08, with $5.3 million counting against Colorado’s salary cap. The club’s buyout option is $4 million for the final year of his contract.
Theodore has politely declined to speak with reporters when he’s not playing. But given that he has participated in the past two games, starting one and playing well in both, he spoke Wednesday after practice and before the team departed for Phoenix, where it plays the Coyotes tonight.
Theodore said he wants to remain in Colorado, but that next season is “too far away” because the club expects to catch Calgary for the eighth and final Western Conference playoff spot. The Avs trail the Flames by seven points with six games remaining, including two matching the contending teams.
“It would be stupid to lose my focus over the next couple games, to think about next year or whatever,” Theodore said.
Avs coach Joel Quenneville was not available Wednesday, but a team spokesman said Peter Budaj would start in the net tonight. Theodore said he supports any goaltending decision the team makes and was happy to get the start in Tuesday’s 3-0 loss to Vancouver.
The Canucks scored on a 5-on-3 power play and added two empty-netters in the final minute. Theodore came off the bench Sunday at Vancouver and backstopped a 5-4 shootout victory. Theodore allowed one goal in regulation and none in the shootout.
“It was good to be back in there and help the team,” Theodore said. “(Tuesday) against Vancouver, I had a chance to play a big game. This time of year, we’re just pushing for the playoffs, and whoever plays just needs to give the team to win every game.”
Budaj started 12 consecutive games before Tuesday, and 21 of the past 25. Like Theodore, Budaj said he just wants the team to win.
“Theo’s worked hard and played well (Tuesday),” Budaj said. “Everybody wants to play. You’re a hockey player. When the game’s on the line, you want to be the guy.
“But with six games to go, all we care about is winning all six. It doesn’t matter who plays to make that happen.”
Avs winger Mark Rycroft isn’t looking beyond tonight. In fact, he’s not looking past his first shift against Phoenix.
“The hardest part about going 6-0 is playing the first shift of the first game,” Rycroft said. “You have to go a shift at a time, period at a time, game at a time, and with that kind of mental management, everything will take care of itself.”
Mike Chambers can be reached at 303-954-1357 or mchambers@denverpost.com.
