Avs sign two, but not Blake or Hinote

Jim Benton, Rocky Mountain News

Saturday, July 1, 2006

Colorado kept two potential unrestricted free agents from entering the free agent market Friday but two of the Avalanche’s most popular players might soon be available for other NHL teams.

The Avalanche agreed to multi-year contracts with defensemen Karlis Skrastins and Brett Clark. Both players were unrestricted free agents and could have tested the free agent market beginning at 10 a.m. today.

Skrastins, who made $1,425,000 last season, signed a three-year, $7.2 million contract that will pay him $2.4 million the next three seasons. Clark earned $450,000 in 2005-06 and agreed to a two-year deal with the Avs that will pay him $1.5 million each season.

That leaves the Avalanche with three other unrestricted free agents, including well-liked defenseman Rob Blake and forward Dan Hinote, still unsigned. Jim Dowd is Colorado’s other unrestricted free agent.

"Francios said he is trying to sign our own free agents before free agency begins and he’s been working on this," team spokesman Jean Martineau said. "So far we’ve signed (Joe) Sakic, Skrastins and Clark. We’re working towards it and then we’ll adjust."

Blake, who is his own agent in the negotiations, could not be reached for comment.

Colorado has 13 players under contract for next year totaling around the $36 million mark. The upper limit of the team payroll range for the 2006-07 season is $44 million so signing Blake, who made $6,364,112 last season, might be tough. Hinote made $643,720 and Dowd 525,000.

The Avalanche still has seven unsigned restricted free agents who have all received qualifying offers. The players are Kurt Sauer, Peter Budaj, Vitaly Kolesnik, Cody McCormick, Brett McLean, John-Michael Liles and Marek Svatos.

Despite his unfinished work, Giguere was happy with Friday’s progress.

"Brett and Karlis had very strong seasons for this lcub last year," he said. "Their dependability and individual skills were coveted by many teams. The long-term commitment they’ve made will add stability and depth to our blueline for the coming years."

Skrastins, who will be 32 on July 9, has played in 433 consecutive games, the longest active streak in the NHL and the second longest by a defenseman in NHL history. He enters next season 53 games shy of equaling the consecutive game record of 486 games set by Tim Horton with Toronto from 1961 to 1968.

Last season, Skrastins finished second in the NHL with 207 blocked shots and had 14 points on three goals and 11 assists.

Clark, 29, had career highs in games played (80), goals (nine), assists (27) and points (36) last season.