As many of the NHL’s other nonplayoff teams have fired general managers and coaches since the end of the regular season, the Avalanche — which in 2016-17 had the worst record posted in the league since the expansion Atlanta Thrashers in 1999-2000 — has stood pat.
At the top, that means Avalanche and Nuggets team president Josh Kroenke is sticking with GM Joe Sakic. That cuts against the grain of the league’s traditional “off with their heads” reactions in the wake of disappointing seasons — in this case, a horrible season that unfolded as the Avalanche scraped the league’s $73 million salary cap ceiling.