Under a massive, stuffed buffalo head inside a rustic bar and grill inside the Pepsi Center, the Avalanche welcomed its two newest players to Colorado this afternoon. Ryan Smyth and Scott Hannan still need more time to acclimate themselves to their new home, but the new Avs free agents were given the red carpet treatment inside the Blue Sky Grill.
“I’m really excited and thrilled,” Smyth said. “It’s obviously a great opportunity to play in a hockey environment. We want to bring the Cup back.”
Smyth and Hannan, who signed contracts worth a combined $49.25 million over 10 years Sunday, said they can’t wait for training camp to get started. Neither player has won a Stanley Cup, and their additions give the two-time Cup winners Avalanche a better shot than recent times.
“It’s been an exciting couple of days, and Colorado really took it to the next level. It’s a great team, a great organization,” Hannan said. “I’ve battled against them over the years, and I’m looking forward to playing with them now. The team’s dedication to winning is big.”
Smyth is wasting no time in getting to know his new city better.
“I think me and my wife, we’re going to be doing some house hunting over the next two days,” he said.
Both players, and Smyth in particular, said the recruiting efforts by Avalanche captain Joe Sakic played a role in their deciding to come to Denver.
“Joe, he’s a gentleman and a scholar. He just said, ‘Hey, we’d love to have you,'” Smyth said. “He really expressed the fact that we were really close last year, and when you get in (to the playoffs), you never know what happens. I found that out last year in Edmonton.”
Smyth, who will receive $31.25 million over the next five years, said he “flopped back and forth” over prospective suitors Sunday.
“It was a stressful time, but in the end, we feel great about our decision to come here,” Smyth said. “I think (geography) was a factor. I think my game is of the Western style a little bit more. My wife and I wanted to try something different and still be in a hockey environment.”
