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Raycroft eager to make debut for Avalanche

By Rick Sadowski, Rocky Mountain News (Contact)

Published October 2, 2008 at 9:11 p.m.

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Colorado Avalanche left wing Cody McLeod, front, looks on as goalie Andrew Raycroft, rear, is unable to grab the puck on a shot by the Dallas Stars' Brenden Morrow during a preseason game Sept. 25 in Dallas.

Photo by Tony Gutierrez © Associated Press

Colorado Avalanche left wing Cody McLeod, front, looks on as goalie Andrew Raycroft, rear, is unable to grab the puck on a shot by the Dallas Stars' Brenden Morrow during a preseason game Sept. 25 in Dallas.

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Avalanche fans will get their first preseason look at the new goalie in town Friday night at the Pepsi Center.

Andrew Raycroft, who was signed as a free agent July 1, is scheduled to start against the Chicago Blackhawks in the Avalanche's next-to-last exhibition game. The teams also will meet Sunday at the United Center.

Raycroft, 28, has posted a 2-0 record with a 2.53 goals-against average and .889 saves percentage in two appearances this preseason but has yet to play in his new home arena.

"I'm just happy to move on and be here," said Raycroft, who won the Calder Trophy as the NHL's rookie of the year with Boston in 2003-04 and won 37 games with Toronto two years ago.

But after going 2-9-5 last season, the Maple Leafs bought out the remaining time on Raycroft's contract, making him an unrestricted free agent. The Avalanche signed him to a one-year, $800,000 deal after Jose Theodore left for Washington.

"I knew something was going to happen," Raycroft said. "It was best for everybody. It was pretty obvious. I talked to (Toronto general manager) Cliff (Fletcher), and he was more than accommodating and knew the situation and wanted the best for me as well."

He said the Avalanche was one of "a couple" of teams he considered.

"With the talent here and with the cities that were available, this was the best city for us," he said. "It's a great place to live, a great area. This is one that is high on the list around the league. I talked to a number of guys that still live here that played here and now play someplace else and come back here in the summer.

"It just fell into place and we're really excited that it worked out the way it did. Now I just have to go and prove myself."

ETC.: Milan Hejduk took part in practice Thursday and might be available tonight. He sat out the past two games because of a stiff back. . . . T.J. Hensick (two goals, three assists) and Ryan Smyth (four goals, one assist) are the Avalanche's leading scorers.