The Games.org

Goaltenders

31 Peter Budaj
60 José Théodore


Defensemen

2 Ken Klee
3 Karlis Skrastins
4 John-Michael Liles
5 Brett Clark
27 Ossi Väänänen
34 Kurt Sauer
44 Jordan Leopold
71 Patrice Brisebois




Forwards
8 Wojtek Wolski
10 Brad May
11 Cody McCormick
12 Brad Richardson
14 Ian Laperriere
15 Andrew Brunette
19 Joe Sakic
20 Mark Rycroft
23 Milan Hejduk
24 Antti Laaksonen
26 Paul Stastny
39 Tyler Arnason
40 Marek Svatos
53 Brett McLean
87 Pierre Turgeon

After the 2004-05 NHL lockout and the implementation of a salary cap, the Avalanche lost Forsberg and Foote to free agency with the hope of keeping Sakic (whose contract would expire after the following season) and other key players. In a money-saving effort to replace the two, veterans Pierre Turgeon and Patrice Brisebois were signed, though many knew they could not fill the shoes of Forsberg and Foote. The team struggled at times in 2005-06, but surprising seasons from rookie Marek Svatos and other young players led to a first-round upset of Dallas.



At the 2006 trade deadline, general manager Pierre Lacroix made a questionable trade, sending goalie David Aebischer, who had recovered from some early-season difficulties to reassert himself as the starter, to the Montreal Canadiens for struggling, former Hart and Vezina Trophy-winning netminder Jose Theodore. Avalanche fans and hockey analysts alike questioned the move, while some wondered if Lacroix was attempting the same kind of trade he made eleven years earlier, when he acquired Roy from the Habs.

A day after the Avalanche were swept in the second round by the Ducks, Lacroix resigned and François Giguère was hired.

On June 20, Joe Sakic was re-signed to a one-year contract. Four days later at the 2006 NHL Entry Draft, the Avs traded Alex Tanguay to the rival Calgary Flames for defenseman Jordan Leopold - he had fallen out of favor with Flames GM/then-coach Darryl Sutter. Rob Blake left for his former team, the Los Angeles Kings, and forward Dan Hinote also moved on, signing with the St. Louis Blues, leaving Sakic and Milan Hejduk as the only two remaining members since the 2001 Cup team. Sakic is the only player left from the team's days in Quebec, but prospect Paul Stastny, son of Nordiques legend Peter Stastny, also provides a link to the past.

After a record 487 consecutive games, the NHL's longest consecutive attendance sellout ended with the Avalanche on October 16, 2006 after a reported attendance of 17,681 which was 326 under capacity at the Pepsi Center before an Avalanche-Chicago Blackhawks game, which the Hawks ultimately won 5-4. The streak began on November 9, 1995, the Avalanche's eighth regular season home game during the 1995-96 NHL season, before a sellout of 16,061 at the McNichols Sports Arena versus the Dallas Stars.