A week after captain Joe Sakic announced his retirement, the Avalanche continued its self-professed rebuilding effort Thursday, announcing the signing of 2009 first-round draft choice Matt Duchene to a standard three-year, entry-level contract.
The contract calls for the Brampton Battalion center, the No. 3 choice in the June 26 draft, to be paid $900,000 in salary each of the next three seasons.
With signing bonuses, the value of the deal adds up to $9.6 million, leaving the Avs’ cap hit at $3.2 million per season through 2011-12.
Earlier, the top two picks in the draft — John Tavares of the Islanders and Victor Hedman of Tampa Bay — each signed similar deals. They will also receive the same $900,000 in salary each of the next three seasons, but have higher bonuses. Their packages are worth $11.25 million over three years, so the cap hits for their teams are $3.75 million a season.
Sakic’s retirement leaves Paul Stastny; Wojtek Wolski, who also played his major junior hockey with Brampton; and T.J. Hensick penciled in as Colorado’s top three centers next season. Wolski was switched from wing last season and had moments of brilliance and great promise before seeming to hit a wall. It’s conceivable he could end up back at wing — especially if Duchene sticks.
Duchene, 18, skated with other Avalanche prospects in the team’s development camp last week. He could play up to 10 games with the Avalanche at the outset of the season before the team has to decide whether to keep him on the NHL roster for all of 2009-10 or send him back to Brampton for more experience. At that point, he can’t be recalled.
The Avalanche’s intention to retrench also was signaled by their trade of Ryan Smyth — and the three years and $18.75 million remaining on his contract — to Los Angeles two weeks ago.
“Joe’s retiring and Smyth got traded,” Duchene said. “So, yeah, I guess they’re talking about going a little bit younger. I guess there’s an opportunity there for me either this year or next year, so I’m going to try to make the best of whatever comes my way.”
He added, “If I’m here right off the hop, I’m going to try and get into the mentality and contribute whatever I can, and as the year goes on, I’ll become more comfortable and things will slow down for me out there. That’s the way I’m looking at it right now. I’m not putting any pressure on myself — do my best, and have some fun and hopefully grab a spot.”
Also Thursday, the Avalanche swapped minor-league defensemen with the New York Rangers, with the Avalanche giving up — and apparently giving up on — 21-year-old Nigel Williams, their second-round draft choice in 2006.
For Williams, Colorado acquired Brian Fahey, 28, who had a full four-season collegiate career at Wisconsin before embarking on a pro career in both the ECHL and American League. He had four goals and 20 assists in 66 games with the AHL’s Hartford Wolf Pack last season.
Williams played his rookie pro season with Lake Erie in 2008-09 but was never called up during the Colorado injury siege on the blue line. He was a second-round pick in 2006.
Terry Frei: 303-954-1895 or tfrei@denverpost.com
