Avalanche to let Boedker and Matthias test free agency, but will bid

The Colorado Avalanche will let in-season acquisitions Mikkel Boedker and Shawn Matthias enter the open market July 1, but the club also plans to bid on their services.

"They're going to test the open market and see what's out there," Avalanche general manager Joe Sakic said, according to Mike Chambers of the Denver Post.

"I'd like to have one back for sure, or both, but we'll see where that goes. They have the right to test it so they're going to do that. We'll revisit that early July."

Colorado surrendered veteran Alex Tanguay, a trio of prospects, and a fourth-round draft selection to potentially rent Boedker and Matthias for their stretch run.

One of those prospects is former first-round draft pick Conner Bleackley, who netted the Arizona Coyotes a compensatory second-round selection when it was decided they wouldn't offer him an entry-level deal.