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Avs talk contracts with Foote, Sauer

By Rick Sadowski, Rocky Mountain News (Contact)

Published June 12, 2008 at 2:21 p.m.

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The agents for defensemen Adam Foote and Kurt Sauer have had preliminary contract talks with the Avalanche and expect to resume discussions shortly before or during the June 20-21 NHL draft.

Foote and Sauer will be eligible for unrestricted free agency on July 1.

The Avalanche reacquired Foote from the Columbus Blue Jackets on Feb. 26 and will part with this year's first-round pick (19th overall) because the team made the playoffs. If Foote is re-signed, the Blue Jackets also would receive the Avalanche's fourth-round selection in 2009.

Foote, who turns 37 next month, had one assist in 12 regular-season games with the Avalanche and, with defense partner Sauer, limited Minnesota's star forward, Marian Gaborik, to one assist in the first round of the playoffs.

Foote, who made $4.6 million in 2007-08, had one goal, 15 assists, 107 penalty minutes and a plus-2 rating in 75 games overall while averaging 23:23 in ice time.

"We're looking forward to having another discussion some time in the near future," Rick Curran, Foote's agent, said Thursday. "I would suspect at the latest we'll get an opportunity of speaking when we're both in Ottawa for the draft," he added, referring to Avalanche general manager Francois Giguere.

"I can tell you that it's no secret that Adam made his move from Columbus to Colorado because that's where he wanted to go. He was delighted to be back and he knows he can still play.

"I'm hopeful that we can work something out that he can stay, and I do believe that that would be Colorado's intentions."

Sauer's agent, Ben Hankinson, said the Avalanche has expressed some interest in re-signing his client, who was a bargain in 2007-08 with a $719,250 salary.

Sauer, 27, had one goal, five assists, 41 penalty minutes and a plus-17 rating in 54 games while averaging 18:41 in ice time. He missed 28 games because of a neck injury.

"I've had one conversation so far with the Avs in regards to Kurt," Hankinson said. "I think we probably will talk again around draft time. There's nothing significant to report so far. They have expressed interest to bring him back. I guess we'll know more as we get closer to July 1.

"I hope it works out. I wouldn't say 100 percent that their intentions are to bring him back. It depends, obviously, on the money and Joe (Sakic) and everything else - the other defensemen. I probably will know more after the draft."

The Avalanche is still waiting to hear if Sakic will return for a 20th NHL season or retire.

sadowskir@RockyMountainNews.com

Comments

  • June 12, 2008

    8:58 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    milehighfive writes:

    Oh no not "The immobile tower of Sauer"! I really hope the AVS don't re-sign him.

  • June 13, 2008

    2:05 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    mareksvatos writes:

    I disagree MH5, I like Sauer re-signing if he comes cheaply. He plays a solid game and you can never have enough experienced defencemen. He's a little slow, but he's so big and strong - he crushes people behind the net. He was our 5th-6th d-man and I thought he did well in that role. My only hope is Giguere doesn't go crazy and give him $2M per. Seems like we've been overpaying people since he arrived (Arnason $1.7M, Hannan $4M, Clark $3.5M, etc).