I was included in an interview session Thursday night with VP/GM Joe Sakic and here's my story on NHL.com.
Sakic had a lot more to say than I could fit into one story and I'll be posting his comments over the next few days. I'll also have comments from coach Patrick Roy and players discussing the season and future.
Among other priorities, Sakic wants to sign Ryan O'Reilly to a contract extension before next season starts. It's included in the NHL.com story.
*****
Sakic had some interesting things to say regarding goalie Reto Berra, who has two more years left on his contract. He said the following before Berra's 41-save, 1-0 shootout win -- his first NHL shutout -- against Winnipeg.
"The way he's played the last few games, he's definitely earned that trust back with the coaching staff. Reto, he had a really good training camp. I thought he played his first few games very well. He got the concussion and had a couple of tough outings in November, work ethic wasn't quite what the coaching staff or anybody wanted and it slipped, he lost faith.
"Calvin (Pickard) came in and was tremendous. He deserved it. You're going to go with a hot goalie. Calvin deserved it, Reto didn't. In the last little while, and because of that, he worked a lot harder. His practice habits, everything was much better. He really earned his starts down the stretch and made the most of it.
"Do we trust him? As long as he keeps doing what he did the last few months, absolutely. For our goaltending situation, one through five in our system, because of what Calvin did, we're a lot more confident."
I asked Sakic if it would do any good for Pickard, who will be a restricted free agent July 1, to go back to Lake Erie in the AHL after showing that he can play at the NHL level.
"For a young player, I think a young guy you need to play, keep working on your game," Sakic said. "Is it going to hurt him to play another year in the minors as a No. 1 goalie, to back up what he did this year? No. Are we ruling him out being here next year? No. That's what training camp is for."
Sounds to me as though the backup job is Berra's to lose in camp, but that Pickard -- assuming he re-signs with the Avalanche -- will be given an opportunity to unseat him.
Semyon Varlamov will start Saturday against Chicago in the season finale.
"Varly is going to get 60 (games) as long as he's healthy," Sakic said of next season. "He's going to be like Jonathan Quick, Carey Price, he's going to get most of the games. That's what No. 1 goalies do."
*****
The Avalanche didn't practice Friday.
You had to feel good for Berra, a friendly guy who in his final six games went 3-2-0 with one no-decision. He stopped 180 of 189 shots in this stretch for a .952 save percentage. He finished the season with a 5-4-1 record, 2.65 goals-against average and .918 save percentage.
"It was a great night," Berra said. "I think the whole team played good. There were (41) shots, but I don’t know how many scoring chances. Especially, (the) PK was great, they didn’t allow much. I feel good and it’s a great win.
"I feel pretty good right now, of course. The whole season was sometimes tough. I went through tough times, but it’s only my second year here so I still have a lot to learn. Overall, I’m happy I have good form right now.…
Said Roy: "I'm happy for him. Earlier in the season he put doubts in everybody's mind. He didn't perform at the level that he should have and today it's fun to see him rewarded with the effort. Reto worked hard in the practices and he's been playing well. I'm very happy for him.
"He's working harder in the practices. I think he's understanding better the role of a backup goalie. It's kind of fairly new for him because when he was in Switzerland he was always the No. 1 guy. Since he's been here he's playing in a backup role.
"It's a different role and he's getting there and he understands he has to work. He needs to maintain his shape, he needs to work harder off the ice and during the practices he needs to work harder than Varly if he wants to perform."