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Svatos deal might entice Sakic

Enough cap room left to persuade captain to return

By Aaron J. Lopez, Rocky Mountain News (Contact)

Published July 25, 2008 at 10:12 a.m.

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Marek Svatos signed a two-year, $4.1 million contract.

Photo by Andy Devlin © NHLI via Getty Images

Marek Svatos signed a two-year, $4.1 million contract.

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As Joe Sakic ponders his future, the Avalanche has put itself in position to accommodate its captain for another encore.

After signing free-agent forward Marek Svatos to a two- year, $4.1 million contract Friday, the Avs are about $8.2 million under the salary cap, leaving plenty of room to add Sakic, should he decide to return for a 20th NHL season.

Sakic said earlier this month he would make a decision before training camp starts in September.

"There's nothing new on that front," his agent, Don Baizley, said Friday.

The Avs, meanwhile, were scheduled to go to arbitration with Svatos on Friday before reaching an agreement that will pay the 26-year-old $1.75 million this season and $2.35 million in 2009-10.

"Marek Svatos has been a key ingredient to our success the last few years," Avalanche vice president and general manager Francois Giguere said in a statement. "He's scored many big goals for this club and we expect him to be a strong force for us again this season."

With 73 goals during the past three seasons, Svatos has proved he can score, but staying healthy has been a challenge.

He was leading the team in goals, with 26, in 2007-08 before suffering a season-ending knee injury.

He tied for the team lead in goals, with 32, as a rookie in 2005-06 despite missing the final 20 games of the season because of a shoulder injury.

The Avalanche now has 27 players on its roster, including at least five with two-way contracts, meaning their salaries wouldn't count against the NHL's $56.7 million cap if they are playing in the minor leagues.

Comments

  • July 28, 2008

    12:52 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    Mike1969 writes:

    8 Million under? Odd looks like they are 13,250,00 under to me?

    http://www.hockeybuzz.com/cap-central/

  • July 29, 2008

    12:56 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    americanario writes:

    mike1969: That site only has 19 guys in their figures; 4 LW, 3 RW, 3 C, 7 D, and 2 G. You have to figure that at the minimum the Avs will have to have another C and RW up from the minors (Jones, Hensick, one of the Cody's, Parker) and their salaries will add at least 1-2 mil. The Avs also tend to keep a guy or two sitting in the press box (Parker) who's salary will also add to that number...so 8 mil is about right...give or take.