As usual, a number of teams will spend freely when the NHL free agent period begins Friday, but the Avalanche aren't expected to be among them.

General manager Joe Sakic has said several times that he doesn't intend to make a "splash" in the open market, most recently this week after introducing first-round draft pick Tyson Jost to the assembled media at the Pepsi Center.

"Nothing big," Sakic said. "We're not going to make a splash or anything, but we are going to look for some one- or two-year deals that are good fits for our club. Everybody mentions defensemen, but that's something if we acquire one, it's not going to be through free agency."

We'd all like to see the Avalanche make a run at right wing Kyle Okposo, but that isn't going to happen based on Sakic's statements. There will be plenty of suitors for Okposo, 28, who is going to get a big raise from the $2.8 million he made last season after producing 22 goals and 42 assists in 79 games for the Islanders.

Left wing Jamie McGinn, 28, would be a useful addition, but the Avalanche rarely bring back former players, Alex Tanguay being one of the few exceptions. Traded to Buffalo in the Ryan O'Reilly transaction, McGinn had 22 goals and 17 assists in 84 games with the Sabres and Anaheim.

Right wing Dale Weise, 27, had 14 goals and 12 assists in 56 games with Montreal, one assist in 15 games with Chicago (one goal in four playoff games).

There are some decent free agents available, but I just don't see the Avalanche spending a whole lot, despite being around $20 million under the salary cap.

Sakic seems more interested in free agent role players, and in re-signing his own restricted free agents: defensemen Tyson Barrie and Duncan Siemens, centers Nathan MacKinnon and Mikhail Grigorenko, and goalie Calvin Pickard.

The Avalanche made a long-term contract proposal to Barrie's agent, Don Meehan, a week ago and Sakic said "(Barrie) will be here" this coming season, whether through a negotiated deal or arbitration. He expects to have MacKinnon in the fold before training camp.

Columbus just signed defenseman Seth Jones, 21, to a six-year, $32.4 million contract that includes a modified no-trade clause in the final two years. Jones' salary cap hit will be $5.4 million.

Jones, who was Nashville's first-round pick (No. 4) in 2013, was traded to the Blue Jackets in January for center Ryan Johansen. He had three goals and 28 assists in 81 games while averaging 22:04 in ice time. Jones has 17 goals and 66 assists in 240 games in three NHL seasons.

Barrie, who turns 25 on July 26, had 13-36-49 in 78 games last season while logging 23:11 in ice time. Barrie has 40-113-153 in 264 games in parts of five seasons.

Sakic is interested in re-signing unrestricted free agent forwards Mikkel Boedker and Shawn Matthias. The Avalanche certainly can use a speedy right wing like Boedker (especially with Jarome Iginla and Mikko Rantanen the only true right wings on the roster), but the price could be too high. He made $3.75 million a year ago.

The Avalanche should make every effort to get Matthias in the fold. A big body (6-4, 220) who can forecheck and wreak havoc around the net, the 28-year-old had six goals and five assists in 20 games as an effective third liner following his late-season acquisition from Toronto. He made $2.3 million last year.

The Avalanche didn't tender qualifying offers to the following: goalies Sami Aittokallio and Roman Will; defensemen Gabriel Beaupre and Brandon Gormley; forwards Taylor Beck, Trevor Cheek, Dennis Everberg, Joey Hishon, Garrett Meurs and Borna Rendulic.

Aittokallio, Everberg, Hishon and Will all signed to play in Europe.

As of now, assuming Barrie and Siemens are re-signed, the Avalanche defense corps looks like this: Barrie, Francois Beauchemin, Chris Bigras, Eric Gelinas, Erik Johnson, Siemens and Nikita Zadorov.

Recently signed defensemen Sergei Boikov, 20, and Anders Lindholm, 21, will play in San Antonio this season.

Sakic said he might bring back Andrew Bodnarchuk, but not Zach Redmond. The final year of Brad Stuart's contract will be bought out.

If the Avalanche add any defensemen, they could come from a group that includes Klas Dahlbeck, 24; Justin Falk, 27; Stuart Percy, 23; Justin Schultz, 25; David Schlemko, 29; and Patrick Wiercioch, 25.

Nothing sexy about any of these guys, but it's the apparent route for the Avalanche this time.



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