The Avalanche on Tuesday released their 2016-17 six-game preseason schedule, which includes three games at the Pepsi Center, two on the road, and their "Frozen Fury" game against Los Angeles at the brand new T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas -- future home of what is expected to be the next NHL expansion team.
The Avalanche went 1-4-1 in the preseason last year and 1-5-2 the year before. They've missed the playoffs two seasons in a row, so get ready for more "we need to get off to a good start" statements in the fall.
They'll play Dallas, Los Angeles and Minnesota at home, with true road games against the Wild and Stars, before meeting the Kings in Las Vegas, which might as well be an L.A. home game.
The on-sale date for preseason tickets will be announced at a later time. Full season and partial season packages are on sale now by calling the Avalanche at 303-428-7645.
The schedule (all times Mountain time; home games in CAPS):
Tuesday, Sept. 27 at Minnesota 6 p.m.
Wednesday, Sept. 28 DALLAS 7 p.m.
Friday, Sept. 30 LOS ANGELES 7 p.m.
Tuesday, Oct. 4 MINNESOTA 7 p.m.
Wednesday, Oct. 5 at Dallas 6:30 p.m.
Saturday, Oct. 8 Los Angeles 8 p.m. Las Vegas
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The Tyson Barrie speculation continues.
TSN's Bob McKenzie is convinced the Avalanche will trade Barrie, a restricted free agent, and said so during an interview on Edmonton’s TSN 1260.
"There’s no question in my mind, I think Tyson Barrie is going to be traded," he said. "Yeah, here’s what I think. This is not going to make any sense, but I’m going to say it anyways. Colorado is looking for a defenseman. But I don’t think they like the economic leverage that Tyson Barrie has right now. Tyson Barrie has got a very strong arbitration case. I think he’s going to be looking for a sum of money that Colorado doesn’t feel comfortable in giving him.
"Therefore, I think they’re looking for somebody who – looking for a different type of defenseman maybe, or one that’s not going to cost them as much money.
“So I think they are in the market for a defenseman. I think they are in the market for forwards as well, being a non-playoff team and all. But I definitely think Tyson Barrie has been in play, continues to be in play, and there’s a real strong chance that he could be traded at some point here.
“And he is precisely the type of defenseman that the Edmonton Oilers would be interested in having. So there may be a fit there. We’ll see.…
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BSNDenver.com and the Denver Post reported Tuesday that former Avalanche general manager Greg Sherman has left the organization.
Sherman, who served as GM for five seasons (2009-14), was replaced in that position by Joe Sakic. Sherman was named senior vice president of business and team operations a year ago. He spent 15 years with the team.