DENVER (AP) Joe Sakic wasn't content to simply run it back. Far from it, even if the Colorado Avalanche did have the best record in the regular season.

Super Joe," his nickname as a Hall of Fame player, has certainly lived up to his reputation of Trader Joe since stepping back into his role of GM for the Avalanche. He already has orchestrated several deals in this young offseason.

Because if there's one thing Sakic knows all about, it's championship windows. His squad, back in the day, won a pair of Stanley Cup trophies in 1996 and 2001.

The Avalanche are in the midst of another window with Nathan MacKinnon, captain Gabriel Landeskog and Cale Makar leading the way (they won in 2022). Sakic is giving the team a mini-reboot after the Avalanche were swept by the Vegas Golden Knights in the Western Conference Final.

Were trying to move on to next year, but if we've got to look back, thats what it was we just didnt play well, Sakic said Friday night before the start of the NHL draft. Were always looking to find a way to just, even if its a little bit better, to try and get better.

Sakic inherited the GM job again on top of his responsibilities as president of hockey operations when Chris MacFarland recently left for the front office of the Nashville Predators.

The good friends already have executed several trades, with Sakic sending Ross Colton to MacFarland's Predators and later Jack Drury.

We werent friends, Sakic cracked. No, it was good. (MacFarland) did what he thought was best for his group. I thought we did what was best for our group. Obviously, those decisions for us really were cap decisions, freed up some space. We couldnt have brought everybody back.

Not done tinkering with the roster, Sakic made a splashy deal with Columbus that sent Valeri Nichushkin to the Blue Jackets for draft picks. It's a way to free up space given Nichushkin had four more seasons left on his contract at a salary cap hit of $6.125 million. That savings could be used to negotiate a long-term extension with Makar, a two-time Norris Trophy winner as the leagues top defenseman.

Theyre tough decisions, Sakic said. "But when you have a cap youre dealing with and youre trying to make the best decisions for your team to try and get under it was a tough phone call to make to Val for the great things hes done for our organization.

Sakic used some of the resources to re-sign blueliners Brent Burns and Brett Kulak on Friday. The 41-year-old Burns will return for a 23rd season and another crack at a Stanley Cup title that's eluded him. He is a powerful leader in the locker room and a reliable player on the ice. Burns enters the 2026-27 season needing 57 games to tie Phil Kessel for the longest regular-season ironman streak in NHL history.

Burns is set to earn the veteran minimum of $850,000 and can make up to $3 million in incentives, according to a person familiar with the deal. The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because financial terms were not disclosed.

Sakic certainly knows the value of a grizzled defenseman: He had Hall of Famer Ray Bourque on board when the Avalanche won the Stanley Cup in 2001.

Also back is Kulak, who agreed to a five-year contract from the Avalanche worth a reported $22.5 million. The 32-year-old Kulak was acquired by the Avalanche on Feb. 24 as part of a deal with Pittsburgh. He averaged just over 19 minutes of ice time in 27 regular-season games.

Sakic doesn't figure to be done revamping this roster, either. The Avalanche could always use another forward or two.

Its going to be the players that we feel are a good fit for us, for what were trying to do, Sakic said. "Hopefully it works out. If it doesnt work out, were going to have a good amount of cap space and draft capital for things to happen during the year.

"Theres no panic on our end. Were not rushed. If we've got to start out with some kids this year to see what they got, what they can do, were perfectly happy with that as well.

___

AP Hockey Writer Stephen Whyno in New York contributed to this report.

___

AP NHL: https://apnews.com/NHL

Joe Sakic is not sitting around and thinking about running it back for next season. The Colorado Avalanche president and general manager made a big move on Thursday, sending Valeri Nichushkin to the Columbus Blue Jackets in return for three draft picks. The Avs get a second-round selection in 2026, a third-round choice in 2027 and a fifth-rounder in 2028.

Nichushkin helped the Avs win the Stanley Cup in 2022, but his production last season didnt match his annual salary of $6.124 million. He had 17 goals and 49 points in 72 games for the Avs this past season, but only two goals in the postseason as the Avs lost to the Vegas Golden Knights in the Western Conference Finals.

Its the third cost-cutting move of the offseason for the Avs, who also traded Ross Colton and Jack Drury earlier this week. The Avs now have 10 selections in this weekends NHL draft, which starts Friday.

Nichushkin competed in 404 regular-season games for the Avs from 2019-26 and registered 283 points (131g/152a). He was also a member of the 2022 Stanley Cup championship team and registered 40 points (27g/13a) in 74 postseason contests with Colorado over that same span.

He originally signed with the Avalanche as a free agent on Aug. 19, 2019.

DENVER (AP) New Nashville front-office executive Chris MacFarland didn't take long to strike a deal with his former team in trading for Colorado forward Ross Colton on Tuesday.

MacFarland, who recently left his role as Avalanche GM to become the president of hockey operations/general manager of the Predators, acquired the veteran center along with goaltender Isak Posch. Colorado receives goalie Magnus Chrona and a pair of third-round picks (2026, '27).

"We are very excited to add Ross Colton to our forward mix, MacFarland said in a statement. Ross is a versatile, two-way winger who will add sandpaper and grit into our middle six group.

Colton is coming off a season with Colorado in which he had nine goals and 15 assists over 73 games. He was third among Avalanche players with 159 hits. Colton and the Avalanche made it to the Western Conference Final before being swept by Vegas.

It was MacFarland who helped orchestrate the trade that brought the 29-year-old Colton to Colorado on June 28, 2023, through a deal with Tampa Bay. Soon after, Colton was signed to a four-year contract.

The trade gives more draft capital to Joe Sakic, who's stepping back into the role of GM in the wake of MacFarland's departure. Sakic, who's also the president of hockey operations, was in that position when the Avalanche won the Stanley Cup in 2022.

Chrona joins a team that features a goaltending tandem of Mackenzie Blackwood and Scott Wedgewood. The pair won the William M. Jennings Trophy, which went to the goalies who played at least 25 games for the team that allowed the least amount of goals in the regular season.

Last season, the 25-year-old Chrona was 9-11-3 with a 2.94 goals-against average for the Milwaukee Admirals of the American Hockey League. Chrona remains familiar with the area having suited up at the University of Denver from 2019-23. He was part of the Pioneers when they won the national championship in 2021-22.

Posch spent time with the Colorado Eagles in each of the last two seasons. The Swedish native was named to the 2026 AHL All-Star Classic for the Pacific Division.

He is a big goalie who will add to our already impressive depth at this position, MacFarland said.

___

AP Sports Writer Teresa M. Walker contributed.

___

AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/nhl

DENVER (AP) Joe Sakic trusts his core group of players. That trust extends to his head coach, too.

So he's giving them the benefit of the doubt.

The Colorado Avalanche president of hockey operations and now de facto general manager plans to run it back next season behind a group that includes Nathan MacKinnon, Cale Makar and captain Gabriel Landeskog. Jared Bednar remains safe, too, with Sakic throwing his support behind the coach with the most wins in team history.

Sakic prefers to focus on a regular season that produced a franchise-most 121 points and the Presidents' Trophy over one bad week of hockey in which the Avalanche were swept by Vegas in the Western Conference Final.

We could panic and try and blow everything up and start all over, Sakic said Thursday. But this team, what theyve done over the course of the year, was pretty remarkable. We want to give them an opportunity to try and do it again.

Bednar appeared to be on the hot seat after a series against the Golden Knights in which the team didn't make many in-game adjustments to counter a stingy Vegas defense. Bednar is entering the final year of his contract.

He's got the confidence from the players, Sakic said. "Its clear from everybody, from players, the staff, that hes the right guy. They respect him, they love playing for him, and thats a big thing. ... The players really believe in him, and Im going with the players.

Sakic, who won two Cup championships with Colorado, steps back into the role of GM after Chris MacFarland left the organization last week to take over as president of hockey operations/general manager of the Nashville Predators. Sakic was the architect who built the Avalanche in 2021-22 when Bednar coached them to a Stanley Cup title.

Colorado was cruising along in this postseason, going 8-1 before running into a Golden Knights team that caught fire after John Tortorella took over as coach. Tortorellas team held Colorado the highest scoring squad in the regular season to seven goals in the series.

We all feel that we left something on the table, but you wake up the next day and you look to try and get better, Sakic said. "We've got a great group. Yes, we had a tough last week of hockey, but we still, from September on, we won the Presidents' Trophy. We had the most points in franchise history. We played really well against L.A., really well against Minnesota. We played against a (Vegas) team that, just for that time, played better than we did. No excuses, but well be ready for next year.

The Avalanche were hit by injuries in the playoffs, most notably to Makar, who missed two games against the Golden Knights.

Everybody is going to be at training camp and 100%, Sakic said. Nobody going to miss any time.

One of the first orders of business for Sakic this offseason will be signing Makar to an extension. The conversations have already started. Makar turned in a 20-goal season for a third consecutive year.

I mean, listen, Cale is going to finish his career here, Sakic said. Were confident that somethings going to get worked out at some point.

Sakic downplayed any issues with the fast-paced style that's made the Avalanche so successful in the regular season but hasn't always translated in the playoffs (see: Dallas last season and Vegas this year).

I dont think the physical play is the reason we lost," Sakic said. "It was just our lack of execution in moments of the games.

At a season-ending news conference for the Denver Nuggets, Kroenke Sports and Entertainment vice chairman Josh Kroenke alluded to the fact that everyone not named Nikola Jokic could be an option in a trade. Kroenke had a slightly different take with the Avalanche.

Youre comparing fruit, but its much different fruit, Kroenke said. "This core group of players on the Avs have, in a similar way, been drafted and developed. ... There is an element of continuity that I always want to say we believe in, and I think continuity of that group is what has established them as an elite program in the NHL year-to-year. So hopefully that continuity continues.

Even the assistant coaches will be back, including Dave Hakstol who oversaw an erratic power play.

We have to be better in certain areas, and thats an area were going to be better, Sakic said. "This groups come a long way. Now were in that window, and this team deserves to try and win, but were going to do whatever we can.

"If its to get younger, well look to try and get younger. But we want to make sure this team has the right pieces to try and compete for the Cup."

___

AP NHL: https://apnews.com/NHL

DENVER (AP) Colorado Avalanche captain Gabriel Landeskog was presented with not one, but two awards on Tuesday, earning the Mark Messier Leadership honor and the Masterton Memorial Trophy.

The 33-year-old forward from Sweden becomes the first player to win both in the same season. It's been a long road back to the rink for Landeskog in his return from a serious knee injury.

Hear from Landeskog on these two awards in the video below.

The Masterton Trophy is awarded to the player who best exemplifies the qualities of perseverance, sportsmanship and dedication to hockey.

The Messier Award goes to the player who demonstrates great leadership qualities to his team, on and off the ice, during the regular season and who plays a leading role in his community growing the game of hockey."

Landeskog celebrated the awards with his wife and young kids. His wife helped keep him winning the Masterton under wraps until the trophy was brought out in a video posted by the NHL.

Landeskogs knee issues began after a skate blade cut his right knee during the 2020 playoffs in the Edmonton bubble. He worked his way through it and helped the Avalanche to a Stanley Cup title in 2022.

The Cup clincher, though, was his last game for quite a stretch. After missing a full season, Landeskog underwent cartilage replacement surgery on May 10, 2023.

He made it back last season for Game 3 of the playoffs against Dallas, which was his first NHL contest in 1,032 days.

This season, he had 14 goals and 21 assists over 60 regular-season games. Colorado went 45-7-8 with him in the lineup and 10-9-3 when he was out.

He added six goals and five assists in the playoffs before the Avalanche were swept in the Western Conference Final by Vegas.

Landeskog remains active in the community, too, taking part in Kroenke Sports and Entertainments (KSE) Charity Brunch and leading the teams annual hospital visit. He also hosts several local foundations through the team's Community Ticket Pride program.

His recovery from his knee injury was covered in a six-part documentary series titled A Clean Sheet.

The Masterton Trophy, which is presented by the NHL Writers Association, was first awarded in 1967-68. The Mark Messier Leadership Award made its debut in 2006-07.

___

https://apnews.com/hub/stanley-cup

https://apnews.com/hub/nhl

DENVER (AP) The Nashville Predators are bringing in Chris MacFarland of the Presidents' Trophy-winning Colorado Avalanche to serve as their president of hockey operations/general manager.

The Predators announced the hiring of MacFarland on Tuesday. He takes over for Barry Trotz, who will step into an advisory role with the organization after announcing earlier this season that he was retiring from the GM role.

Watch the latest on this announcement in the video below.

MacFarland finished his fourth season as general manager of the Avalanche, where the team he helped assemble turned in the NHL's best record before being swept by the Vegas Golden Knights in the Western Conference Final. MacFarland is a finalist for general manager of the year, along with Minnesotas Bill Guerin and Anaheims Pat Verbeek.

The 56-year-old MacFarland spent 11 seasons with the Avalanche, learning under the direction of current team president and Hall of Famer Joe Sakic. MacFarland was promoted to GM soon after the Avalanche won the 2022 Stanley Cup.

Nashville has missed the playoffs three of the past four seasons after a stretch of eight straight postseason berths, which included the 2017 Western Conference championship.

We could not be more pleased that Chris has elected to join the Predators organization and lead our hockey operations group, Predators chairman and majority owner Bill Haslam said in a statement. He turned out to be a perfect fit for us just what we were looking for to lead our organization moving forward.

MacFarland inherits a team that rallied from last in the NHL on Dec. 8 to a wild-card spot with 10 games to play only to be eliminated in the 81st game of the season. He has a solid core that includes goaltender Juuse Saros, captain Roman Josi and forward Filip Forsberg. Coach Andrew Brunette has gone 115-108-23 at Nashville with slow starts in each of his three seasons.

I know this is a proud organization with a solid track record of putting together teams that the fans of Smashville support wholeheartedly, MacFarland said. "My goal here is to build a winner. ... I am excited about our future.

MacFarland is known for his ability to make deals. This season, he bolstered the Avalanche around the trade deadline by acquiring Nazem Kadri, Brett Kulak, Nicolas Roy and Nick Blankenburg. The team's 121 points were the most in franchise history. The Avalanche cruised through the first two rounds, going 8-1, before their high-scoring offense was neutralized by the Golden Knights.

Chris was instrumental in our success over the last decade and a key part of our 2022 Stanley Cup championship, said Josh Kroenke, vice chairman of Kroenke Sports & Entertainment. This was an opportunity for him to take on a bigger role with the Predators while being closer to his family.

Sakic will fill in as GM of the Avalanche for the foreseeable future, Kroenke said. Sakic is the only person in NHL history to capture a Stanley Cup title as a captain (1996, 2001) and GM (2022) with the same organization.

We are confident in Joes leadership and that we will continue to build upon our recent success as we seek to bring another Cup back to Colorado, Kroenke said.

One decision facing the Avalanche may be the status of Jared Bednar, the all-time winningest coach in franchise history who's about to enter the final season of his contract. The Avalanche have been to the postseason nine straight seasons under Bednar, with one appearance in the Stanley Cup Final.

Its not easy to win in this league, Bednar said after being eliminated by Vegas. "Its not easy through the regular season and in the playoffs it can become more and more difficult as you move on.

The closer you get, the more hope you have that you can accomplish (winning a title). And when you dont, its hard to deal with.

https://apnews.com/NHL

Talk of the Towns been on a brief hiatus, but Denver7's Lionel Bienvenu and Nick Rothschild return with a lot to discuss in the wake of both the Nuggets and Avalanche crashing out of the playoffs.

For the Avs, questions are swirling around head coach Jared Bednar. The internet believes its time for new leadership. but Rothschild feels differently.

The power play is a mess, that lands on Bednar - ultimately hes the head coach, Rothschild said. As it relates his ability to lead the team, I think hes still the right guy for the job.

The Nuggets know David Adelman will return as their head coach, but past that it seems like we might be headed for a major roster shake-up. Bienvenu believes the franchise should commit to their core for one more season and bring back one of their rising stars.

I think they need to re-sign Peyton Watson, who is [the sort of] player they were missing in the playoffs, Bienvenu said. And I have to give Aaron Gordon one more year. I know he was injured a lot [last season], but hes earned his way to one more chance.

Claude Lemieux, a four-time Stanley Cup champion whose ferocious, hard-hitting style of play angered opponents and sometimes overshadowed his prodigious skills and ability to deliver in the biggest games, has died after taking his own life, according to authorities. He was 60.

The Palm Beach County Sherriffs Office said Thursday that deputies responded just after 3 a.m. to the scene of an apparent suicide at the familys furniture store in Lake Park, Florida. The office said the victim was believed to be Lemieux, who was found in a rear warehouse by one of his sons.

The NHL Alumni Association announced Lemieuxs death in a post on social media.

___

EDITORS NOTE This story includes discussion of suicide. If you or someone you know needs help, the national suicide and crisis lifeline in the U.S. is available by calling or texting 988. There is also an online chat at 988lifeline.org

___

Just three days ago, Lemieux was the Montreal Canadiens torch bearer prior to Game 3 of the Eastern Conference Final at Bell Centre. Former teammate Chris Nilan reposted a photo of him, Lemieux and Sergio Momesso from the arena with the message: You never know when youre going to see someone for the last time. Rest in Peace, Mon Ami.

Today is a dark day for the Canadiens family and the entire hockey community," Canadiens owner Geoff Molson said. A fierce competitor who rose to the occasion in big moments, Claude was a relentless, courageous and tenacious player who led the team to the highest honors. He embodied the very essence of being a Montreal Canadiens player. Today we mourn the untimely passing of one of our champions. Our thoughts are with his family on this difficult day.

President Donald Trump, in a post on social media, called Lemieux a true Legend of the Game and one of the fiercest competitors Hockey has ever seen." He described Lemieux as a tremendous Trump supporter, saying he will be missed by all who love Winning and Toughness."

As a player, the 6-foot-1, 215-pound Lemieux was a bruising mix of talent and abrasiveness, not afraid to cross the line in the name of competition over 21 seasons in the NHL. He wound up with nearly 400 goals, about the same number of assists and nearly 1,800 penalty minutes, the epitome of a guy you wanted on your team but dreaded facing on the ice.

Just hard-nosed, hard-nosed player, said Montreal coach Martin St. Louis, a former star for Tampa Bay. When I played against Claude, you had to fight for every inch on the ice with him. He competed hard. He always toed the line. He was a hard player to play against.

Lemieux won the Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP after scoring 13 goals in 20 games for the New Jersey Devils to help them win their first championship in 1995.

A year later with the Colorado Avalanche, he was suspended for two games for a hit from behind on Detroit's Kris Draper that fueled one of the nastiest rivalries in the history of the NHL. Lemieux returned to score the first goal in Game 3 of the final against Florida on the way to the Avalanche sweeping the Panthers to win the Stanley Cup for the first time in their first season since moving from his native Quebec.

Darren McCarty, a truculent member of the Red Wings who had multiple fights with Lemieux, posted a broken heart emoji on social media and heard the news from Draper. McCarty said Lemieux the person was totally different than the player, and the two later met for an interview with smiles about their clashes.

Sad day: another brother gone," McCarty said in a video message posted to YouTube. "If youre struggling out there, no matter what, just reach out for some help. It can never be that bad. Its a sad day, no matter what. Rest in peace, Claude.

Colorado president of hockey operations Joe Sakic, who was teammates with Lemieux on the Avalanche, said the organization was devastated.

Pepe was a terrific hockey player, a fierce competitor and a champion in every way. He was also a loyal friend who would do anything for his teammates and someone you could always count on, Sakic said. "Gone but never forgotten. Rest in peace my friend.

Lemieux also won the Cup with Montreal in 1986 and returned to the Devils to be a part of their title run in 2000. He played 1,449 regular-season and playoff games with six different teams from 1983-2009, finishing with Phoenix, Dallas and San Jose.

His 80 career playoff goals rank ninth in league history. Commissioner Gary Bettman called Lemieux one of the greatest big-game players in hockey history.

Lemieux had become an agent in the years since his playing career ended and represented Carolinas Frederik Andersen, New Jersey's Timo Meier, Detroit's Moritz Seider and Boston's Hampus Lindholm among more than a dozen clients in the NHL.

Part of a hockey family, Lemieux's brother Jocelyn and son Brendan also played in the league. Brendan's feisty style over more than 300 games most resembled his father's.

At a gathering in December to celebrate the 30-year anniversary of Colorado's '96 Stanley Cup championship, Lemieux said of winning, When its happening, when youre in the middle of it, you dont quite appreciate it as much as you should. Late former teammate Chris Simon was represented during the on-ice ceremony by his children. He died in 2024 at 52.

Its very difficult, and especially with Chris passing at such a young age, Lemieux said. We have to count our blessings be grateful for the days that we have and enjoy and appreciate those times when we get together.

___

Associated Press writer David Fischer in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, and AP Sports Writers Pat Graham in Denver and Aaron Beard in Raleigh, North Carolina, contributed to this report.

___

AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/nhl

LAS VEGAS (AP) Mark Stone and Cole Smith scored for Vegas and the Golden Knights suffocated Colorado's high-powered offense to beat the Avalanche 2-1 on Tuesday night for an unthinkable sweep to make their third Stanley Cup Final in nine seasons.

The Golden Knights will get a break while they watch to see whether Carolina or Montreal emerges from the Eastern Conference Final.

This is a crushing end for an Avalanche team that won the Presidents' Trophy and had blown through the playoffs with an 8-1 record. Chicago in 2013 was the last team to claim the Presidents Trophy and the Stanley Cup in the same season.

Stone scored for the Golden Knights on a lob pass from Brayden McNabb deep in his zone. Stone caught the puck and had a direct path to the net and made the most of it. Smith later tipped in Dylan Coghlan's shot from the point with 5:45 left for a critical two-goal margin.

Carter Hart stopped 20 shots, coming within 2:03 of his first playoff shutout in six years.

Gabriel Landeskog ended that shutout, one of the few highlights of the night for the Avalanche, who went the final 14:23 of the second period without a shot on goal and more than 22 minutes with just one shot.

Mackenzie Blackwood, making his first start in the series, gave the Avalanche a chance to win with several dazzling saves en route to 24 saves overall. His best stop came late in the second period when he lunged to glove a power-play shot from Pavel Dorofeyev.

The journey to the Cup Final isn't quite the Cinderella story of the Golden Knights first team that made the Stanley Cup Final in 2018 before losing in five games to Washington, but Vegas journey to this point was far from expected.

The Golden Knights faced the possibility of not making the playoffs for just the second time in franchise history when management fired coach Bruce Cassidy, who led the club to the 2023 title, with eight games left in the regular season.

In came John Tortorella, who validated the controversial decision by leading Vegas to a 7-0-1 record to close the regular season and then series victories over Utah and Anaheim. Then the Golden Knights faced an Avalanche team on a roll and without any sign of slowing down.

At least until facing Vegas.

Colorado coach Jared Bednar searched for answers against the Golden Knights, even changing goalies on Tuesday. The Avalanche also dealt with injuries to their top two players this series reigning Norris Trophy winner Cale Makar and Hart Trophy finalist Nathan MacKinnon.

The Golden Knights had their own injury issues, winning the first two games of the series without Stone.

___

AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/stanley-cup and https://apnews.com/hub/nhl