Continuing with the blueprint of building from within — and getting younger — the Avalanche today will officially part company with several older players as the NHL’s free-agency period begins.
The Avs, league sources said, will not offer contracts to several of their unrestricted free agents, including Marek Svatos, Brett Clark, Ruslan Salei, Stephane Yelle, Chris Durno and Darcy Tucker.
And as general manager Greg Sherman said last month, the Avs will not be players in any bidding for high-dollar free agents, including big names such as Ilya Kovalchuk.
The Avs are happy with the current program as is, developing their talent and watching them grow.
“I really think we have a good thing going right now, that we’re on a good path,” Avalanche coach Joe Sacco said last week during the NHL awards show in Las Vegas. “We’re a young team that found some success this past year, making the playoffs, and right now we just want to focus on getting better.”
At an average of 26.7 years old, the Avs had the third-youngest team in the NHL last season. That average will go down with the jettison of four players 33 or older — Clark, Salei, Yelle and Tucker.
“I really think Colorado has a good plan in place, rebuilding with youth,” former NHL coach and current television analyst Pierre McGuire said. “They’re getting a good base of young talent that has already tasted the playoff experience. That is going to be so valuable going forward.”
Some of the Avs’ younger stalwarts, such as Matt Duchene and Ryan O’Reilly, will be due new contracts in two years, and there is still a handful of unsigned young regulars such as Chris Stewart, Peter Mueller, Brandon Yip and Kyle Quincey. Goalie Craig Anderson also is entering the final year of his current contract.
That doesn’t mean the Avs might not kick tires with some free agent out there today. There are some solid defensemen who should be available, who could solicit an offer from Colorado. Or, perhaps a winger up front to add depth.
Kovalchuk is the undisputed big fish of this year’s free-agent pool. At only 27 and a multiple 40-goal scorer, the New Jersey left winger is probably the highest-quality unrestricted free agent to test the market in modern league history.
“We really feel Ilya’s best days are ahead of him,” Kovalchuk’s agent, Jay Grossman, said Wednesday.
Multiple media reports say Los Angeles is keenly interested in Kovalchuk. The free-agent period begins at 10 a.m. today.
Footnotes.
The Avs on Wednesday placed defenseman Tom Preissing on waivers. If he clears waivers as expected today, the Avs said they will buy out the final year of his contract, worth $2.75 million.
Under league bylaws, the two-thirds buyout will cost the Avs $1.84 million and will count against the salary cap. But the Avs can spread out the salary over two years against the cap.
Adrian Dater: 303-954-1360 or adater@denverpost.com and
NHL free agency
Here are five players who might be a good fit for the Avs, considering the team’s stated budget plans and needs:
• Willie Mitchell, D, Vancouver: Solid Vancouver veteran defenseman but coming off serious concussion.
• Paul Martin, D, New Jersey: Might be too high-priced for Avs’ taste, but Devils’ D-man is good player.
• Lee Stempniak, RW, Phoenix: He’s only 27 and played well for Coyotes after deadline deal from Toronto.
• Alex Frolov, LW, Los Angeles: Scored 20 or more goals five times and still only 28.
• Zbynek Michalek, D, Phoenix: Good shot blocker, strong in own end.
