Denver Post sports writer Adrian Dater posted his Avs Mailbag each Wednesday during the 2006-07 Avalanche season on DenverPost.com. This is a special offseason installment.
To drop a question into the Avs Mailbag or visit DenverPost.com’s .
Are there going to be big players in the free-agent market?
— Everett, Glendale, Ariz.
Everett – Yes, some good ones, including Peter Forsberg, Chris Drury, Daniel Briere, Ryan Smyth, Scott Hannan, Kimmo Timmonen and J.S. Giguere. All could sign before July 1 with their respective teams, but that doesn’t happen too often.
Adrian: Do you think any of the rookies coming into camp will have any chance of making the club, and what impact do you think they will have?
— Terry Luce, Detroit
Terry – I think Chris Stewart is clearly the favorite to land a spot, but asking him to step in and be another Paul Stastny or Wojtek Wolski might be asking a lot. But he is their top prospect right now, and looked good in camp last year. Kyle Cumiskey should challenge for a defensive spot, and keep an eye on players like Codey Burki and T.J. Hensick.
Adrian – Who will back up Peter Budaj in goal next season?
— Rick Sallee, Colorado Springs
Rick – It looks like … drum roll please … Jose Theodore! Doesn’t that excite you, Avalanche fans? But the signs are pointing to the Avs keeping him around for another year, mostly because they wouldn’t save a whole heck of a lot in cap space by buying out his contract. We’ll see, but the word I’m hearing is that Jose will be back.
Heya, Adrian. What do you think will be the next big thing (or things) the league will be looking to do to enhance the game, increase scoring, and keep fans’ rapt attention?
— Christopher, Highlands Ranch
Christopher – Not much, probably. They talked a bit at the GM meetings in Ottawa about making the nets bigger, but there is nowhere near a consensus to change things right now. Some GMs are concerned that scoring was slightly down this year, and think some changes need to take place. But most of them believe scoring went down because coaches have adapted to the new rules and are teaching their teams now to collapse around the net and block more shots than the past.
Hey, Adrian. I’ve been to a couple of the Avs’ morning skates and have seen a few kids out there before the players get on. Who are they? And if you have seen them, who is the best player? I’ve seen a few teenagers out there. Could they be future prospects?
— Phil, Denver
Phil – Those are usually children of players out there. Joe Sakic’s son is out there a bit now, and I know Pierre Turgeon’s kids were out there a lot.
Adrian: How come the Avs didn’t make a run at DU’s leading scorer Ryan Dingle?
— Rich, Denver
Rich – Good question. But they obviously weren’t sold on him enough. They get to see those kids a lot more than other college prospects, obviously, so they had good looks at him I’m sure.
Hey, Adrian. With games no longer ending in ties, do you think it’s time for the NHL to switch to a straight win-loss record for standings, thus eliminating getting a point for OT/shootout losses? I definitely do.
— Al Malchow, Colorado Springs
Al – No, I like things the way they are. There’s too much tinkering with the game’s points system. Leave it the way it is and let’s get on with life. I think a point is warranted for getting to overtime, no matter what. But some people are never happy in this league, especially a lot of cranky Canadian media types who need to fill 4,000 column inches a day with new hockey material.
Will the Avalanche continue to charge Stanley Cup prices at the box office next year for a re-building team? Kroenke Sports Enterprises has lost touch with the NHL and the loyal fans in Denver. I suppose the cost of the Nuggets acquiring Allen Iverson means that NHL fans have to suffer through price gouging and an inferior product on the ice.
— Chris, Parker
Chris – I don’t know, I think the Avs’ prices are in line with the rest of the league, and the Avs still have a pretty decent team to call them “rebuilding.” I guess you could get technical and call them that, but they did have 95 points this year and things are looking up for next year.
I bought your book on the Avs-Red Wings feud the other day and am really enjoying it (even though the amount of words spent on Scotty Bowman was a tad excessive). Anyway, you said that Bill and Nancy Laurie were owners of the Avs. Is that correct? Did they own the Avs before Stan Kroenke?
— Mary Jo Reitsema, Boulder
Mary Jo – Thanks for reading it. Yes, the Lauries briefly owned the Avalanche, in 1999. Remember in the playoffs, when Laurie addressed the public on behalf of the Avalanche regarding the Columbine shootings? They were going to continue to own the team, but angry shareholders of the former Ascent Entertainment Group thought former owner Charlie Lyons gave the Lauries too much of a sweetheart deal, and nullified the sale. Stan Kroenke, Laurie’s brother-in-law, rode to the rescue and bought the team at a higher price.
Adrian Dater has covered the Colorado Avalanche since the team moved to Denver in 1995. To drop a question into his Avs Mailbag or visit DenverPost.com’s .
