I’m not dusting off the aluminum foil Stanley Cup hat just yet, but I did get new batteries for the red-lamp cap. It just might be a decent year to be a hockey fan in Colorado, then again….

Here it is July and if you are already looking at the NHL and Colorado Avalanche Web sites, then this article is for you. I wrote this on July 9 so please forgive me if Super Joe Sakic has decided whether or not to stay or we inked anyone else.

Initially, I was disappointed Colorado didn’t bring in any big guns in case Sakic hangs them up. This year’s free agent market has a few, but none have landed here… yet. Sakic is still absolutely worth the money and the team really has no choice but to wait on Super Joe before signing anyone else big.

One clear positive has already emerged. Thank God we kept Adam Foote! He always has been and always will be “the man” on defense for the Avs and I’m happy he’ll probably retire in the blue and burgundy.

I was puzzled to see the Avs’ Web site says this year’s signings will help meet “the organization’s yearly goal – to ice a competitive and exciting team”. Really? I thought it was to win it all. Can we please make that our goal every year? I vote we at least try.

I know Pierre Lacroix is the team President now, but frankly I wish he was still the G.M. with a loaded checkbook. I’m not sure what he does now, but this year’s moves definitely lack his flair for the dramatic. Greg Wyshynski of Yahoo sports even wrote a short called “Colorado Avalanche fans are baffled by 'cheapskate' summer”. I’ll let you be the judge of that.
Anyway, I pulled information from several Web sites so you don’t have to… you’re welcome! I credit the following websites: Colorado Avalanche, ESPN, NHL, Denver Post, Yahoo Sports, TSN, and Wikipedia (okay, I’m not proud of that one).

Here is the quick scoop on the 2008 Colorado Avalanche roster moves thus far:

Who’s out:
Kurt Sauer – off to Phoenix for four years to the tune of $1.75 million a year.  Injuries plagued his time here in Denver, but he was a solid defenseman last year when presented with the opportunity.
Jose Theodore – two-year deal with the Washington Capitals for $9 million.  Ha!  I know he played extremely well at the end of last year (before laying an egg against Detroit), but this guy was a complete bust before that.  He waited until his contract was almost up and then he stood on his head.  I hate that - good riddance.
Wyatt Smith – one-year deal with Tampa Bay. He only played 25 games with the Avs and wasn’t too memorable. His best years may still be ahead of him.
Andrew Brunette went back to the Wild for $7 million on a three-year deal.  Andrew scored some great goals for us (2nd leading scorer in 2007-08), but he is getting older and he didn’t much care to stand in the crease where we needed him most.  I’m happy for him since I know the Avs didn’t want a long-term deal.
Jeff Finger – Toronto snapped him up at the bargain basement price of $3.5 million per year for four years. Unbelievable! I guess they missed his game-costing blunder against the Wild in the postseason and the fact they could have had Kurt Sauer for half as much. Moves like this one may be the reason that the Leafs haven’t won a Cup since 1967. 

Who stays:
Adam Foote – two-year deal for $6 million. He’s happy not to be in Columbus anymore and we’re just happy to have him back. Don’t forget he was the Bluejacket captain and if Sakic goes, we’ll need his leadership on the ice even more.
John-Michael Liles – four years at $16.8 million.  He’s not worth more than Footer, but he can shoot the puck and he plays smart most of the time.  We all wish he was a little bigger.
Scott Parker –one-year deal for $500,000 if he makes the squad or $100,000 if he ends up in Lake Erie. He doesn’t have the best hands, unless his gloves are off, then there aren’t too many better. 
As a side note - check out his mug on Yahoo Sports (nice hawk).
Wojtek Wolski –two-years for $5.6 million dollars. He was the fourth leading scoring among rookies his first year, but has yet to reach his full potential with the Avs. Hopefully, this jumpstarts his promising career.

Who is in:
Daniel Tjarnqvist to a one-year contract. He is a defenseman currently playing in Russia, but he has NHL experience with Atlanta, Minnesota, and Edmonton.  
Adrian Dater from the Denver Post remarked that a longtime Edmonton hockey writer said Tjarnqvist is “Not great offensively, not great defensively. Plays a safe game, kind of like Sauer.”
Great... I guess.
Chris Durno a four-year letterman at Michigan Tech who spent the last three years in the American Hockey League where he recorded career highs last season in games played goals with 22. It’s time to step up to the big league son.
Andrew Raycroft - one-year deal as a goalie. Peter Budaj will carry the load this year and finished as well as he could have against Detroit, but Raycroft was the Calder Memorial Trophy winner in 2003-04. He was the NHL’s top rookie posting a 29-18-9 mark with the Bruins. He finished sixth in the league in goals-against average (2.05) and fifth in save percentage (.926) that year as well. 
He could challenge for the No. 1 spot and the Avs are desperate for a technically sound, consistent and game-stealing goalie that can get us deeper in the playoffs.

Darcy Tucker - two-year deal brings the former Toronto Maple Leaf player to Denver. The 12-year NHL veteran reached the 20-goal mark six times in his career, including three of the last four years. 
He is a tough presence up front, but he actually has some talent as well. He brings it every night too which is good for any team.
Per Ledin - 29-year-old agitator spent the majority of his professional career in Sweden and represented his home country at the 2008 International Ice Hockey Federation World Championship.  The forward played the 2007-08 season on the Swedish Elite League, finishing third in penalty minutes (137), fifth in goals (16) and sixth overall in points (33).
I have no idea who this dude is or how he skates. Time will tell.

The Avs’ Web site insists “there is still work to be done” and we’re still waiting for that first line center. I guess the team and Colorado fans will just have to keep waiting. My question is just how long and who will be left when they are ready to get back to work? 

The preseason can’t start soon enough for me and I think it will be a good year.  I’m just hoping if we can stay healthy, Sakic returns and Granato can give the team an identity that we just might have a shot to ice a competitive and exciting team this year (sigh).

And yes, I know Marian Hossa went to Detroit. Geez, I hate them Wings! GO AVS!!!