If the Colorado Avalanche wade into the free agency pool, it won't involve a blockbuster signing on the first day of the frenzy.
"We're not going to be looking that day," Avalanche general manager Joe Sakic told Mike Chambers of The Denver Post.
"As the summer goes on, we’ll see what good fits are. But on July 1, don’t expect us to go after any big long-term deals. Within our own, we’re going to discuss what we have within, but outside on July 1 we’re not going to go after a big splash.”
The Avalanche have seven pending unrestricted free agents and five pending RFAs - including Nathan MacKinnon and Tyson Barrie - with about $18.75 million in cap space, according to General Fanager.
Related: Avalanche to let Boedker and Matthias test free agency, but will bid
Sakic said Thursday that Barrie will not be traded and that the club would prefer to sign the defenseman to a long-term deal but will go to arbitration if necessary.
TSN's Darren Dreger reported Tuesday that Sakic has told other NHL GMs that he's willing to listen on trades and potentially deal big names.
As he did on the Barrie front, Sakic shot down the notion that the Avalanche could be interested in acquiring pending RFA blue-liner Jacob Trouba from the Winnipeg Jets.
“I don’t ever comment on rumors,” Sakic said. “There’s a lot of speculation out there. All I can tell you is we’ve had conversations with different teams and we want to try to improve our crop.”
The Avalanche hold the 10th overall pick in the draft, which takes place next Friday and Saturday in Buffalo. They selected forward Mikko Rantanen in that same spot last year.
Colorado finished five points out of a playoff spot this season, but the Avalanche boast a solid core that includes MacKinnon, Barrie, captain Gabriel Landeskog, and forward Matt Duchene.
