| | Associated Press
DENVER -- Colorado Avalanche coach Bob Hartley will be back
for another season.
General manager Pierre Lacroix didn't mask his disappointment
after the Avs lost to the Dallas Stars in seven games during the
Western Conference finals. When asked whether Hartley would be back
for another year, Lacroix said it was one of many areas that needed
examination.
On Wednesday, he said Hartley's return was a non-issue. "It's
business as usual. (Hartley's) under contract and he's going to be
back," Lacroix said.
During a telephone conference Wednesday, Lacroix offered few
hints about what will happen next with Colorado's free agents,
whose contracts expire in 16 days.
"I'm not going to discuss anything publicly here other than we
have a couple guys who are free agents and a couple guys left
exposed for the expansion draft," Lacroix said.
Colorado will lose two players on June 23 when the Columbus Blue
Jackets and the Minnesota Wild each select a player in the NHL
Expansion Draft.
Joe Sakic will be a restricted free agent on July 1, and has
already said he will go to arbitration if the two sides can't agree
to a contract on their own. Other free agents include Milan Hejduk,
Chris Drury, Adam Deadmarsh, defenseman Sandis Ozolinsh and
Stephane Yelle.
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