What is that?  A smile on my face after an Avs playoff exit?  Maybe it's a smirk knowing what's to come. Playoff beard officially gone...but, really, that's okay.   Congrats, boys, on a GREAT season!!!  You far exceded ANY and ALL expections this year.  Check off the "playoff experience" part of your list.  We definately missed you Dr. Jones, "Mueller?...Mueller?...Mueller?" (damn you, Blakey) and Duke.  Andy is the ish!!!  I CANNOT WAIT FOR OCTOBER!!!  These kids are gonna be gooooooooooood!  THANKS!!!

I know, I know...it's all a bonus from here till the end of the season, but can I vent just a little?  So, far, tonight's effort been the most frustrating for me to watch this season.  Questions to ponder:

1)  If you know Marian Gaborik scores 22% of NYR's goals (and with a team that has been having trouble scoring),   don't you key on him?

2)  Was it me, or did the Avs look sluggish the first 3/4 of the game?  Sloppy?  Messy?  Which team played last night?

3)  Didn't the Avs look really easy to defend tonight?

4)  And, what is it with The Avs and rookie goaltenders (Johnson, LaCosta, C. Mason, Nabokov)?? They sure do make them look good!!!

5) I love the 3rd jerseys, but they can't seen to win in them.  Something to that?

Thanks for the opp to remove some steam and come back to reality.  (deep breath and sigh)  I know a season comes with adversity, but this team has spoiled us thusfar.  How 'bout a win streak before the Olympic break?  PLEASE?

What a great first half for the Colorado Avalanche.  Number one in the Northwest Division and number three in the Western Conference.  Impressive for a team that was predicted to be at the bottom of the West in every pre-season magazine and website.  So, now what?  I say, stay the course.  Keep the youth movement going.  Dump some more salary.  For example, John Michael Liles has been nothing short of mediocre for some time and recently, until Clark's injury, a healthy scratch.  So, why not deal him to one of this NTC contractual teams, get rid of his millions and get draft picks? (I hate no trade clauses...ughhhh!)  And, I beg you, do not trade for anymore overpaid, over the hill veterans before March!!  Haven't we learned how that works out?  This Avs team has definitely overachieved and it looks like, minus a major meltdown,  the Avs should be in the post-season.  But, does anyone think Colorado are a serious Stanley Cup threat?  So, let's continue to get younger, faster, continue to learn and continue to grow. It obviously works..ala, Pittsburgh, Chicago, Washington, L.A, etc.  So, please Mr. Sherman, DON'T MESS THIS UP!!! 

Wow!  Was what happened last night in Denver why the NHL has four officials on the ice?  So, one referee can be behind the net and out of position when Bobby Ryan clearly went into the crease (and partially into the net) without any push or force?  So, that Andy couldn't make a move to save the potential first goal?  Where was the center ice official?  What was he looking at?  The linesman should be able to make a remark to the referees. as well.  It was a blatant bad call that, in the end, cost the Avs the game.  Hockey game that is all about momentum and that changed everything!  It gets frustrating that every ticky-tack penalty gets called, but an obvious breaking of a rule, goes unnoticed.  Please, Mr. Bettman, let's go back to the one referee system.  Your result?  More room and less (missed) calls!!!

I like the Anderson signing alot.  Under the radar, but the kid can play.  Also, he's wants to be in Denver and is ready to be a #1...that's a major plus.  Boods is a quality back-up and a good team guy, so I understand keeping him.  Koci is big and nasty.  Lappy will be missed, but needed to go where he'd be rewarded with a fair contract.  And, don't forget, a blue chip #3 draft pick enters the fray.  Plus, still waiting for Joe's decision.  So far, so good...

There was something very interesting I noticed over the weekend.

While watching the NHL Playoffs, I saw this commercial for Dos Equis.  Now, correct me if I wrong, but doesn't the man at the end the commercial say:

"I don't always drink beer, but when I do, I prefer Joe Sakic's!"

LOL!!!  I didn't realize the most interesting man in the world was an Avs fan!!

Check it out for yourself at:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p2SSZA0CjdQ&feature=PlayList&p=A79EDB29D100FF8B&index=6

Is this season over yet?  Isn't Cody McLeod a nice addition this season?  Has the injured list reached 15?  Have the Lake Erie Monsters folded due to lack of players?  Is Peter Budaj an NHL goalie?  Is Joe back?  Is it draft day?  Is it July 1st yet?  Do Giguere and Granato still have jobs?  Are Tucker and Arnason still on the roster?  Is it training camp time?  Is Patrick Roy too old to come out of retirement?  Is there a chance this team can be competitive next season?  Will there ever be another Stanley Cup banner hanging from the PC rafters?  Thanks!  I just had to get that off my chest!!!  GO AVS!!!

Wow!  Just when you think our Avs have hit the absolute bottom, comes the ill New York Rangers. The first minute (and Lappy's face) was a culmination of the whole season.  UGLY!  Did I hear Mike Haynes say the Rangers had just two wins in their last 10 games?  Prescription for wellness?  Play Colorado NOW!  I'm ready!  READY! READY!   I look at the clock on nhl.com and it reads:  3 Days 17 hours till the NHL trade deadline.  And I am ready for the new Avs!!!  They will be here in less than four days.  Dispite it all, I remain a huge fan.  Proud of the logo and loving that city they play in, but I am ready with open arms to welcome the new team!!!!  Don't look now, Islanders, this group of  Avs are coming on Monday and, you too, will have a third win in your last 10!!! 

Are we, as Avs fans, just spoiled?  All the greatness that skated with the "A" on the front of their jersey.  Sakic, Forsberg, Lemieux, Roy, Blake, Bourque etc.  The continuous sellouts (up till the past few seasons ).  Knowing that at the trade deadline every year our Avs were in Cup contention.  Knowing that the piece needed was just a Lacroix phone call away.  In Spring, always ready for another Cup run...until now.  Until this organization began to make really bad decisions.  Budaj is the answer for Theodore?  Tucker can replace Bruno's 20 goals per season.  And tell me what Tyler Arnason does that warrants playing time (finally scratched the last two games)?  I'm getting so tired.  Tired of watching these Avs.  Don't get me wrong.  I love them.  Painfully so.  But, I sit and wonder what happened?  What happened to this once very proud team and organization? I watch and  wonder if these pro athletes know what they are supposed to be doing on the ice. They look confused, non-competitive and slow.  New Jersey on Thursday made them look like a Pee Wee team and not a real good one, at that.  I blame ownership and the GM for letting it get like this.  It's time to start over.  Start from the bottom  and re-build.  Keep the young talent...Stastny, Wolski, Stewart, McLeod.  Keep the Captain (although, I don't know why Joe would want to return).  Keep the heart.  But, rumors are that Lappy is on the block.  The rest can go.  If this team can get young talent, prospects and draft picks for the likes of Hejduk, Smyth, Liles, Leopold, Hannan, etc., I say do it.  At least, when you watch a little confusion, or missed assignment or a bad goal, you know it's just youth and a learning process.  That way, when the team performs the way they have been, Avs fans know that there will be another day when the shot at a Stanley Cup will be a reality.  When a young team will come together and become champions.  Someday, if they do it right. But with what we've seen the past few years, I don't know if that dream will ever come to fruition.  With that said, I'll continue to cheer and fight off the the fatigue of watching this team try to perform, but with hopes another Stanley Cup banner will be raised to the rafters of the Pepsi Center....someday.