Some days there are pieces of news that will shock you and then some that will be as blatantly obvious as the Pinocchio's face. Today the Avs have both.

In a move that surprised no one, Joe Sakic has been inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame. Sakic, the Avs former captain and still the most recognizable face of the franchise, representing its past as a player and present and future as a member of the management staff.

Sakic scored 625 goals, 1,016 assists during 20 seasons with the Colorado Avalanche and Quebec Nordiques.

He was always known to be a gentleman on and off the ice, keeping a humble attitude and an active member with the community. Even after his retirement, Sakic has set the bar for players in this town. Not just for how they should be able to play but how they should act as well.

Sakic was the best the Avalanche could have and, to borrow a phrase from "The Dark Knight," he was the captain the Avs needed but not the one they deserved. He was always the player they could count on when they needed a goal late in the third period or, especially, in overtime.

He will join Pavel Bure, Mats Sundin (also a former Nordique) and Adam Oates in the 2012 class of Hall of Fame inductees and former Avs Ray Bourque, Patrick Roy and Jarri Kurri in the hall of fame.

Shane O'Brien

On the other side, the Avs, after indications they weren't going to re-sign him, have signed defenseman Shane O'Brien to a three year contract, $6 million contract.

Up until now, O'Brien has been like Caine in Kung Fu, going from team to team, helping out a team for a short while and then moving on. He has not spent more than one year with the same team since his two years with Canucks from 2008-10.

O'Brien was a fan favorite this past year, his exuberant personality and never-say-die attitude impressed the fans as much as it did his teammates. He was also a vocal leader for the Avs on the ice and on the bench.

The Avs usually don't sign their unrestricted free agents at this time. If they haven't signed them by now they rarely do and with the signing of Ryan Wilson, Matt Hunwick in addition to the impending signing of Erik Johnson, O'Brien looked to have no room on the club.

Now it appears as if the Avalanche have made room for him.

With him signed the Avs have $31 million in cap space for next year

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