Brunette’s days with Avalanche may be numbered

From the Denver Post:

A sign that Andrew Brunette’s days with the Avalanche might be over could be read into the fact there have been no talks between him and the team since the season ended.

Brunette can be an unrestricted free agent July 1, but an NHL source said the Avs have yet to contact the veteran forward regarding a new contract.

Brunette, 34, was the team’s second-leading scorer last season, with 59 points (19 goals) in 82 games. He also was the second-leading scorer in the playoffs, with five goals and eight points in 10 games.

His regular-season scoring output was a 24-point regression, however, from the 2006-07 season. His age and contract requirements might have convinced the Avs to look to younger players, specifically winger David Jones, who played on the top two lines much of the final third of the season and playoffs.

Read more about the Avalanche here, including word that Jose Theodore is closer to a deal with the team.

Andrew Brunette has been one of the team’s best forwards the last couple of seasons. The unheralded winger does great work along the boards, goes hard to the net and has good hands. While it may seem logical to allow him to leave via free agency and replace him with a younger player, if the organization chooses to do that, I believe the Avs will really miss his services next season. In any event, Brunette will not have a hard time finding work.