Iced Tea
7-25-05, 4:18 PM
Avalanche holding on to Sakic, Blake
Associated Press
7/25/2005 4:02:33 PM
DENVER (AP) - The Colorado Avalanche said Monday they plan to honour the big-ticket contracts of Joe Sakic and Rob Blake, two of the core players for the perennial Stanley Cup contenders whose futures were in limbo.
The fate of other key Avalanche players - most notably Peter Forsberg and Adam Foote - is still being considered as general manager Pierre Lacroix scrambles to make decisions before Aug. 1, when those players will go on the open market if not signed.
Under a collective bargaining agreement approved last week by players and owners, the Avalanche can spend no more than $39 million US. It means Colorado almost certainly must part with one or two players from the core that has made them a constant contender. Lacroix, who has been working on Colorado's plans since the agreement was reached July 13, said every decision he makes is meant to point the franchise to its third Stanley Cup.
''We get up in the morning for one reason: To be there for the last day,'' Lacroix said.
The Avalanche invited Sakic and Blake, two of the eight players Colorado still has under contract, to the team's first news conference since the agreement was reached, and Lacroix announced they would be back.
With the 24 per cent rollback on all current contracts, Sakic (at $6.65 million) and Blake ($6.36 million) would cost about $13 million combined for the upcoming season. Forsberg and Foote are both unrestricted free agents. If they are not signed by Aug. 1, they will be on the open market.
Despite a history of injuries, Forsberg is widely considered one of the best players in the game. The most he can make under the new deal is $7.8 million and it would be difficult for the Avalanche to keep him unless he was willing to accept significantly less than what he could get on the open market.
Lacroix said his goal is to keep as much of the team intact as possible.
''I want everyone back,'' he said. ''Is it possible? Sure, it's possible. But there needs to be adjustments. We've been going around the clock for seven days now.''
Link (http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/news_story.asp?id=131402)
Hmm, it would be a miracle if Lacroix is able to sign both Forsberg and Foote but if anyone can do it, the magician, the Amazing PL, can do it.
Associated Press
7/25/2005 4:02:33 PM
DENVER (AP) - The Colorado Avalanche said Monday they plan to honour the big-ticket contracts of Joe Sakic and Rob Blake, two of the core players for the perennial Stanley Cup contenders whose futures were in limbo.
The fate of other key Avalanche players - most notably Peter Forsberg and Adam Foote - is still being considered as general manager Pierre Lacroix scrambles to make decisions before Aug. 1, when those players will go on the open market if not signed.
Under a collective bargaining agreement approved last week by players and owners, the Avalanche can spend no more than $39 million US. It means Colorado almost certainly must part with one or two players from the core that has made them a constant contender. Lacroix, who has been working on Colorado's plans since the agreement was reached July 13, said every decision he makes is meant to point the franchise to its third Stanley Cup.
''We get up in the morning for one reason: To be there for the last day,'' Lacroix said.
The Avalanche invited Sakic and Blake, two of the eight players Colorado still has under contract, to the team's first news conference since the agreement was reached, and Lacroix announced they would be back.
With the 24 per cent rollback on all current contracts, Sakic (at $6.65 million) and Blake ($6.36 million) would cost about $13 million combined for the upcoming season. Forsberg and Foote are both unrestricted free agents. If they are not signed by Aug. 1, they will be on the open market.
Despite a history of injuries, Forsberg is widely considered one of the best players in the game. The most he can make under the new deal is $7.8 million and it would be difficult for the Avalanche to keep him unless he was willing to accept significantly less than what he could get on the open market.
Lacroix said his goal is to keep as much of the team intact as possible.
''I want everyone back,'' he said. ''Is it possible? Sure, it's possible. But there needs to be adjustments. We've been going around the clock for seven days now.''
Link (http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/news_story.asp?id=131402)
Hmm, it would be a miracle if Lacroix is able to sign both Forsberg and Foote but if anyone can do it, the magician, the Amazing PL, can do it.