Avalanche locks up Wolski for two years

By Rick Sadowski, Rocky Mountain News (Contact)

Published July 2, 2008 at 3:03 p.m.
Updated July 3, 2008 at 1:04 p.m.

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Photo by Michael Martin/NHLI via Getty Images

Wojtek Wolski will stay with the Colorado Avalanche after agreeing to a two-year contract Tuesday.

The Avalanche turned to its own free agents Wednesday and signed forward Wojtek Wolski to a two-year, $5.6 million contract.

Wolski, 22, was a restricted free agent and had been tendered a qualifying offer from the Avalanche to retain his rights, meaning it could have matched any offer made by another club.

Wolski, who had 18 goals and 30 assists in 77 games last season, will be paid $2.5 million in 2008-09 and $3.1 million in 2009-10.

"Wojtek is definitely part of the elite young group of players establishing themselves in the league," Avalanche general manager Francois Giguere said. "Therefore, we feel very strongly that he is important to the future success of our club. We've been pleased with his development at the NHL level and we expect him to be a big contributor to our team."

Wolski, a 6-foot-3, 200-pounder, was the Avalanche's first- round pick (21st overall) in the 2004 NHL entry draft. He has 42 goals and 62 assists in 162

regular-season games, with three goals and six assists in 15 playoff games.

Wolski had two goals and three assists in seven playoff games this year. He suffered three broken ribs in the opening game of the Western Conference semifinals against Detroit and was sidelined for the remainder of the series.

DEVELOPMENT CAMP: Twenty- nine players, including forwards T.J. Hensick and David Jones, as well as first-round picks Kevin Shattenkirk (2007), a defenseman, and Chris Stewart (2006), a right wing, are expected to attend the Avalanche's annual development camp from July 9-16 at the Family Sports Center in Centennial.

Generally, players will be on the ice beginning July 11 from about 9 a.m. to noon, though some of those days will be limited to off-ice workouts. The on-ice sessions will be open to the public.

• July 3, 2008

  6:37 a.m.

  Suggest removal

  afvx3 writes:

  Whoopity doo the avs sign Wolski, The Redwings sign Hossa. That's all that needs to be said about when the Av's will be lifting the CUP! What happened to this organization?

• July 3, 2008

  8:51 a.m.

  Suggest removal

  frosty writes:

  Hopefully Wolski can man up and skate an entire season producing results and not disappear mid season as he usually does, add some pounds and start being a physical presence on the ice, then maybe this is a good signing.

• July 3, 2008

  1:35 p.m.

  Suggest removal

  SE7EN writes:

  I don't care who the Avs sign. Get Ovechkin, Crosby and Malkin on this team for all I care... Tony Granato is our head coach again. The Avs took 10 steps back with that move alone.

• July 11, 2008

  11:35 a.m.

  Suggest removal

  Avs_Blow writes:

  Wow...I hope the Avs make the playoffs at the 8th seed, even though that seems like a stretch with these great off season moves.....would be a nice warm up for the Wings run at back 2 back cups. GO WINGS!!!

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