Joel Quenneville’s voice rarely registered above a whisper.
The Avalanche coach faced the media as always, however, following his team’s ouster from playoff contention because of a 4-2 loss to Nashville on Saturday night.
Although the Calgary Flames, 3-2 losers to Edmonton, backed into the playoffs because of the Avs’ loss, Quenneville credited the Flames.
“They went on that six-game (winning) streak late in the year, so they earned the spot,” Quenneville said.
Quenneville, who has another year left on his contract and is expected to be retained, said “now isn’t the time” to rehash a season that finished superbly but ultimately landed the Avs out of the playoffs for the first time in team history.
“I think all year long we were pushing every button, to find some consistency,” he said. “We got better as the season went along, and were peaking at the right time, which is a little disappointing now.”
Foppa’s plans
Peter Forsberg can be an unrestricted free agent this summer, and no doubt many Avs fans hope he rejoins the team. The Swedish center maintained he has no idea what his hockey future holds, beyond the playoffs with Nashville.
“I said I was going to take my time in the summer and not make any rush decisions,” said Forsberg, a former Avs star. “I want to come back and play at 100 percent. Before I make a decision, I want to make sure I am that. I’m not going to play another year like I did at the beginning of the year.”
The 2002-03 Hart Trophy winner said his problematic skate-fitting issue that plagued his early season is over. He spoke highly of the Avalanche’s short-term future – whether he came back or not.
“They have a good team, a good foundation to build on,” Forsberg said.
Footnotes
Avs forward Pierre Turgeon was in the dressing room Saturday for the first time in several weeks. He remains out with a calf injury and said he has not decided yet whether he will try to play in the NHL next season. … Avs winger Marek Svatos was out with a groin injury. Defenseman Ossi Vaananen was a healthy scratch.
