Despite widespread speculation that the Avalanche are interested in trading defenseman Tyson Barrie, general manager Joe Sakic on Thursday said his plan is to sign the pending restricted free agent to a new contract, preferably long term.

“I’d like to do a long-term deal with Tyson," Sakic told the Denver Post. "If that doesn’t work out, it’s expected he’ll go to arbitration. Either way, he’ll be here.”

Sakic said he would meet with Barrie's representatives next week during the June 24-25 NHL draft in Buffalo.

Sakic didn't specifically address a recent TSN rumor that the Avalanche would go "big-game hunting" by making major moves this offseason -- possibly trading 30-goal scorer Matt Duchene -- after missing the playoffs for the second year in a row.

But Duchene is part of the team "core,“ a group that Sakic said he's counting on to play at a high level on a consistent basis.

"Our core, we’re expecting (it) to make the next step,” he said. “Our core group is a group that knows they have to make the next step and mature on how they play the game.”

The Avalanche also need to sign pending restricted free agents Nathan MacKinnon, Calvin Pickard and Mikhail Grigorenko. Sakic said qualifying offers also will be tendered to defensemen Brandon Gormley and Duncan Siemens, as well as forward Andreas Martinsen.

Mikkel Boedker and Shawn Matthias will be become unrestricted free agents July 1.

“I did speak with both representatives," Sakic told the paper. "They’re going to test the open market and see what’s out there. 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.”



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