Smyth, Hannan big additions for Colorado

Rick Sadowski, Rocky Mountain News

Monday, July 2, 2007

Francois Giguere did a lot more than test the free-agent waters Sunday.

The Avalanche's second-year general manager took the deep plunge.

Late on Sunday night, a couple of hours after signing defenseman Scott Hannan to a four-year, $18 million contract, Giguere landed prized left wing Ryan Smyth with a five-year, $31.25 million deal that includes a no-trade clause.

The addition of Hannan, 28, fills a big need on the blue line for the Avalanche, which last season allowed 251 goals, ninth most in the NHL, and finished 23rd in penalty killing in the 30-team league.

Acquiring Smyth, 31, is another huge catch for the Avalanche, which has the option of putting him on what could be a potent line with captain Joe Sakic and Andrew Brunette.

"We feel we've really upgraded the team," Giguere said. "We finished the year with two (regulation) losses in the last 19 games, so we felt that when the season ended, we were one of the top teams. With these two guys, we feel we're a team that's going to compete for the Stanley Cup."

All of a sudden, it seems just like old times for the Avalanche, which made a habit of bringing in marquee names through trades before the post-lockout collective bargaining agreement and salary-cap system came into play.

"We're extremely excited to have signed two of the most coveted free agents in this year's free-agent market," Giguere said. "We have two guys that are going to bring a dimension of character, which fits exactly what we're trying to build around this team. One of the needs that we had identified for our team was to try and improve our penalty killing and our defensive play. We have two guys who are going to play a big role in the penalty- killing units.

"Scott Hannan is a defenseman who is going to be seen as a shutdown defenseman that's going to play against the top lines. He's a solid defensive defenseman who plays a physical game.

"Ryan Smyth is known for his character, his leadership, his grit, his ability to score goals around the net. We think he's going to complement our top two lines."

Not counting prospects or players on two-way deals, the Avalanche has 19 players under contract for about $42 million that will count against the NHL salary cap; the cap will be $50.3 million in 2007-08.

Asked what he would do for an encore after landing Hannan and Smyth, Giguere laughed and said: "Get a good night's sleep."

Sakic, who played alongside Smyth on two Canadian Olympic teams — they won gold at Salt Lake City in 2002 — had a hand in recruiting the former Edmonton Oiler and New York Islander.

"I don't want to get into details. I can only say that Joe was very helpful for me," Giguere said.

Known nearly as much for his mullet as for his scoring prowess, the Alberta-born Smyth was the face of the Oilers for 12 seasons until he was traded to the Islanders on Feb. 27 after he turned down the offer of a five-year, $25 million contract extension.

The 6-foot-1, 190-pound Smyth had 36 goals — 15 on power plays and five game winners — along with 32 assists and 52 penalty minutes in 71 games last season.

He has 270 goals, 294 assists and 621 penalty minutes in 788 career games.

The 6-1, 225-pound Hannan had four goals, 20 assists, 38 penalty minutes and a plus-1 plus/minus rating in 79 games with the San Jose Sharks and led the team in ice time (22:49 average) and blocked shots (140).

Hannan, chosen by the Sharks in the first round (23rd overall) in the 1997 NHL entry draft, has 25 goals, 102 assists and 329 penalty minutes in 508 career games in eight seasons.

Giguere wouldn't get into specifics when asked if he made a bid for center Chris Drury, who left the Buffalo Sabres to sign a five- year, $35.25 million contract with the New York Rangers.

"We identified the cream of the crop, and we talked to the cream of the crop," Giguere said. "We just feel fortunate that we were able to get two of the cream of the crop. I was hoping we'd get one and we got two, so I think we're very fortunate."

The Avalanche lost one free agent, forward Brett McLean. He signed a three-year, $5.1 million contract with the Florida Panthers.

McLean, 28, made $750,000 last season while collecting 35 points in 78 games, including a career- high 15 goals.

Meanwhile, the Avalanche chose not to buy out the final year of goalie Jose Theodore's contract, which is worth $6 million and counts $5.33 million against the cap.

"If we buy out a player like Jose, what's out there on the market?" Giguere said. "Can we get a better player? I met with Jose a couple times at the end of the year, and I believe there is a commitment on his part to be the best player he can be. If he's there, or near there, he will be a lot better than any alternative on the market."

Prominent free agents moving on Sunday

Player, pos. Former team New team Contract

Jason Blake, RW N.Y. Islanders Toronto Five years/$20 million

Daniel Briere, C Buffalo Philadelphia Eight years/$52 million

Chris Drury, C Buffalo N.Y. Rangers Five years/$32.5 million

Radek Dvorak, RW St. Louis Florida Two years/NA

Scott Gomez, C New Jersey N.Y. Rangers Seven years/$51.5 million

Jeff Hamilton, C Chicago Carolina Two years/$1.6 million

Scott Hannan, D San Jose Colorado Four years/$18 million

Viktor Kozlov, C N.Y. Islanders Washington Two years/$5 million

Brett McLean, C/LW Avalanche Florida Three years/$5.1 million

Michel Ouellet, RW Pittsburgh Tampa Bay Two years/NA

Yanic Perreault, C Toronto Chicago One year/$1.5 million

Tom Poti, D N.Y. Islanders Washington Four years/$14 million

Brian Rafalski, D New Jersey Detroit Five years/$30 million

Cory Sarich, D Tampa Bay Calgary Five years/$18 million

Mathieu Schneider, D Detroit Anaheim Two years/$11.25 million

Ryan Smyth, LW N.Y. Islanders Colorado Five years/$31.25 million

Todd White, C Minnesota Atlanta Four years/$9.5 million

Richard Zednik, LW N.Y. Islanders Florida Two years/$3.25 million

sadowskir@RockyMountainNews.com