Theodore talks ongoing with Avalanche

Four others get qualifying offers

By Rick Sadowski, Rocky Mountain News (Contact)

Published June 25, 2008 at 9:32 p.m.

Text size  

• 1 Comment
• Email
• Print

Associated Press

Theodore's status might change.

The Avalanche confirmed Wednesday that contract talks are continuing with goalie Jose Theodore and that it has given qualifying offers to four restricted free agents who finished the 2007-08 season with the team.

Forwards Marek Svatos, Wojtek Wolski, Cody McCormick and Cody McLeod received the offers, enabling the Avalanche to retain their rights and the ability to match offers that might come when the NHL free-agency period starts Tuesday.

Svatos scored 26 goals last season despite missing 20 games with injuries. He sat out the final 16 games and all 10 playoff games after suffering a torn anterior cruciate ligament in a March 1 contest against Los Angeles.

Svatos, 26, is a highly skilled offensive player but has been plagued by injuries since joining the organization in 2002-03. He has 75 goals and 44 assists in 193 career games.

Wolski, 22, had 18 goals and 30 assists in 77 games in his second full season with the Avalanche, and he added two goals and three assists in seven playoff games.

Wolski suffered three broken ribs against Detroit in the opening game of the Western Conference semifinals and missed the rest of the series.

McCormick, 25, and McLeod, 24, are gritty forwards who began the season with the Lake Erie Monsters in the American Hockey League. McCormick had two goals, two assists and 50 penalty minutes in 40 games with the Avalanche. McLeod, a rookie, had four goals, five assists and 120 penalty minutes in 49 games.

Theodore will become an unrestricted free agent if he isn't signed by Tuesday.

HAYNES SENTENCED: Jefferson County Judge Jack DeVita sentenced Avalanche play-by-play announcer Mike Haynes to 60 hours of community service after entering a guilty plea to a rear- end accident. Haynes pleaded guilty to following too closely in the March 2007 crash.

sadowskir@RockyMountainNews.com. The Associated Press contributed to this report.

• June 26, 2008

  8:36 a.m.

  Suggest removal

  Mike1969 writes:

  SIGN BRUNO! This should be a no-brainer!

Featured

• Denver turns 150

  

  Read about the city's history, look at old photos and see a list of influential Denverites.

• Mount Crushmore

  

  Which four Broncos greats should be immortalized on Mount Crushmore? Vote here.

• Winter Escapes

  

  Your insider’s guide to the copious joys of the coolest season.

• Rocky Multimedia

  

  The news comes alive in our videos and slide shows. Catch up on what's happening today.

• Weekend plans?

  

  Figure out things to do this weekend with the help of our entertainment calendar.

• Bronco Dean's rant

  

  Listen to Bronco Dean's pregame rant on the Raiders.

• Season To Share

  

  The Post-News Season To Share campaign provides grants to area nonprofits.

• The Rocky @ 150 Years

  

  The Rocky was there when Colorado became a state in 1876. Read our coverage.

• A Dozen on Denver

  

  And the winner is... Robert Ziegler! See the whole fiction series by clicking here.