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Development camp roster set |
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Rick Sadowski
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Late on some of this stuff, but a family member was undergoing surgery, so I was involved with that (no, I didn’t operate). Recovery going well, so all is good.
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The Avalanche will begin their annual development camp Thursday and run it through Monday.
They’ll introduce some of their 2018 draft picks on Thursday, including No. 16 selection Martin Kaut.
Last year's first two picks, defensemen Cale Makar and Conor Timmins, also will participate. Goalie Pavel Francouz will take part, as well forward Shane Bowers, who was included in the Matt Duchene trade.
They’ll hold on-ice sessions Friday, Saturday and Sunday at Family Sports in Centennial, and play a three-on-three game Sunday at EPIC/Blue Arena in Fort Collins. Team activities will be held Monday in Fort Collins.
On-ice sessions and the three-on-three game are open to the public and free.
Here’s the roster:
The schedule:
Friday at Family Sports, Centennial:
Four groups: 8 a.m. – 12:15 p.m.
(Combined groups): 3 p.m.
Saturday at Family Sports
Four groups: 8 a.m. – 1 p.m.
Sunday at Family Sports
On-ice sessions: 8 a.m. – 12:15 p.m.
Sunday at EPIC/Blue Arena, Ft. Collins
3-on-3 tournament: 5:30 p.m.
Monday
Team activities in Ft. Collins
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The Avalanche have completed buying out the final year of defenseman Brooks Orpik’s contract ($4.5 million salary, $5.5 million salary cap hit).
According to capfriendly.com, the Avalanche will carry a $2.5 million cap hit in 2018-19 and $1.5 million in 2019-20. The actual total cost is $3 million for a $1.5 million savings.
Orpik is now an unrestricted free agent, along with defensemen Duncan Siemens and Jesse Graham, and forwards Nail Yakupov, Felix Girard and Reid Petryk, restricted free agents who weren’t tendered qualifying offers.
Hoping this actually works out well for Siemens, who will turn 25 in September. The former first-round pick (No. 11 in 2011) played in a NHL career high 16 games last season after playing in four the previous four seasons combined. Maybe somebody will give him a chance.
As for Yakupov, the former first overall pick (with Edmonton in 2012) had 16 points (nine goals, seven assists) in 58 games after signing a one-year contract last July. He had two goals in his last 38 games, was a healthy scratch in 18 of the Avalanche’s last 26 games and didn’t play in any of the six playoff games.
The Avalanche qualified defensemen Patrik Nemeth, Mason Geertsen and Ryan Graves, goalie Spencer Martin and forward Matt Nieto.
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