The Avalanche will not be active on July 1 when NHL free agency begins, general manager Joe Sakic told The Denver Post.
“We’re not going to be looking that day,” Sakic said. “As the summer goes on, we’ll see what good fits are. But on the July 1, don’t expect us to go after any big long-term deals. Within our own, we’re going to discuss what we have within, but outside on July 1 we’re not going to go after a big splash.”
That approach likely means the Avalanche expect big things from 21-year-old defensemen Nikita Zadorov and Chris Bigras, who both spent most of last season in the minors but offer potential in helping Colorado improve its blue line.