The 200,000-hectare property — reputed to be the largest working cattle ranch in Canada — is owned by billionaire Stan Kroenke, who's also owner of the NHL's Colorado Avalanche. His wife, Ann Walton Kroenke, is the daughter of Wal-Mart department store founder Bud Walton.
Members of the Nicola Valley Fish and Game Club claim ranch managers are illegally blocking access to Minnie and Stoney lakes, by dumping tree logs on a roadway that is publicly owned.

Duchene expected to play tomorrow...

It's one thing to have skill, it's another to have the character and will to make yourself better.
This kid is good. The scary part? He's getting better every game.

Well deserved.
Now give him the damn Calder.

Yikes. Some of those are a bit...umm...well you be the judge.

Also, I'm sure many of you have already seen/heard it but Dater has a nice podcast up talking to the guy that came up with the idea/was part of the group that created the logo for the Avalanche (and Nuggets).
Pretty interesting stuff.

Owen Sound Attack general manager Dale DeGray said on Wednesday that the injured centre will not play for London this season despite the Knights claiming the Stratford native on overage waivers on Tuesday.

"From everything I've been told, it's not going to happen," DeGray said. "I've talked to Colorado and they said he's not ready to play. He hasn't passed clearance for full practice. I've talked to Joey several times. He's not ready to play."

And it's unclear if Hishon will suit up at all this season as he's still struggling with post-concussion symptoms after taking an elbow to the head during the 2011 MasterCard Memorial Cup tournament in May.

On twitter that is! Heyooo
This is more of a heads up so Dave or Cheryl can add him to the list.

Take a gander at the right of the screen under his daily ramblings.
Can't say I'm surprised he was claimed.

All the best yipper.

Man I hate the Canucks.
But maaaaad props to Shawn Thornton for this good burn on this "weasly" reporter.

Hilarious.

"Everyone else is in play"
Koivu and Selanne are untouchable because they have no movement clauses but my WORD thats a big statement coming from a GM.
Granted his team lacks depth and I can see why he'd say something like that.
He says he wants core players coming back and not prospects and draft picks.
Can you guys really see them trading away Getzlaf, Perry and Ryan???

I capitalized the title because I figure it was that important AND I never thought he would actually talk. Of course he was busy working on Nuggets stuff while doing the interview but at least I know the Avs are owned by someone and our favourite teams owner knows absolutely nothin about hockey.
Great.
Just great.

Heyyyyy look at that!
Good for them.

Joakim Lindstrom (COL) and Brad Mills (NJD) on waivers. FLA's Mark Cullen clears re-entry waivers. And, of course, CAR claims Nodl from PHI

For the record, I agree with the guy but at the same time I'm torn. RoR would be perfect because this kid never gives up and like Joe, leads by example on the ice. However this is a young team, one much different looking from when Joe was the captain and the article makes a good point that they may need a captain that is vocal and calls guys out in the locker room.

Who knows, all I know is the Avs are lucky to have 4 or 5 guys who could be captain.

I didn't see an Avalanche logo but these are pretty cool!

Interesting way of making new posters...kinda like it.

I know, there's a lot of predictions everywhere nowadays because that's all we got until training camp starts. But this guy predicted the Avs to not only be last in the West, but 10 points behind the Oilers (with 64 points)

I know he's a Shark homer (and has them finishing first of course) but hooooly shit this guy didn't do his homework.

In terms of numbers they've got Gabby with #92.
Elliott #46
Barrie #41
Hejda #8
Hishon #38
It's training camp #'s, so take it for what its worth!

Dater interviews Mueller and he finally says words to the press for the first time in a year! Huza! I had no idea how he got his second concussion last preseason but apparently it was an errant stick in the temple that did it for him (its where he got his first concussion).
He sounds excited.
He loves the Avs organization and its fans.
Here's to a kick ass season being one of our PP QBs and Dutchy's sidekick! (knock on wood)

UPDATE: Dater added more on Mueller in his blog.

That's right!

Click on the right of the pictures to watch the commercials!

They talk about Yashin and the Islanders situation, but then if you scroll down you see they talk a bit about The Avs and the rest of the league...including this tidbit:

Colorado Avalanche: "Here is your biggest reason for optimism in the Avalanche for 2011-12," proclaims Adrian Dater, almost stereotypically. What's that then? Matt Duchene(notes)? Paul Stastny(notes)? Maybe even Gabriel Landeskog? No, you idiot, it's a rookie defenseman's plus-minus rating in the WHL. This is gonna be one long-ass season.

Am I the only one that doesn't find Jenny Finch that attractive?

heckhole (dan)
some milehigh fans are claiming EJ is still recouping from his concussion last season and reporters are refusing to follow up

@adater
adater @heckhole They are idiots then. EJ is fine, working out now in Denver, in fact
6 hours ago via Mobile Web

Dunno if this deserved a fanshot or not, but hey, its the offseason and its always nice to hear an avalanche player is healthy...

I've no idea if this has been mentioned in another thread anywhere else but thought it should be shared. Loved this post:

All said and done. Great meal with the boys. @tbizz4 @jhish18 @Bmalone22 @cpickard1 #full #blizz?

(tyson barrie, hishon, brad malone and calvin pickard)

Frick I want this season to start!

"Everything is moving forward there," Hishon said of his health. "I feel awesome, so that's in the past and behind me. (The head injury) wasn't diagnosed as a concussion, but I had most of the symptoms and I had to give it time to calm down. Everything is fine now."

I love how he chirps at players during the game, the way he plays, the way he commits to hits and how he continually talks to his players. He seems like the kinda player that keeps his team in games, and really pisses off the opponent and throws them off of theirs.
His goals ain't pretty, but he scores in the dirty areas and his board play is phenominal. Everything the Avalanche need.
I'm not sure when this video was made but the Avalanche were 21-15...so.... a loooong time ago. :)

We saw a glimpse of one of the top 10 in the Landeskog thread.
Here's the others with really funny captions.

This one about Zinejenenenbad:

Again, the basic problem with this image is its conception. They wanted a shot that looked like a player on a locker room bench. This looks like he's dropping a deuce. And rather pleased about it.

1 year, $1.55 million