"When everyone on the Colorado roster was healthy, which wasn't often in a season when the Avalanche was second only to the Edmonton Oilers in man-games lost to injury, coach Joe Sacco often spoke about the luxury of having eight veteran defensemen available. Now that the offseason has started, so has the sorting-out process at the position. This isn't a news flash: Veterans Ruslan Salei and Brett Clark, who made a combined $6.5 million this season and have expiring contracts, almost certainly are gone. The situation with Adam Foote, this season's captain and a franchise fixture, is a bit tricky. He will turn 39 in July. His days of playing marathon minutes in a top defensive pairing are behind him. Granted, all seemed to acknowledge that when he signed a "reasonable" $6 million, two-year deal that is expiring, and he probably will be amenable to accepting another "bargain" deal or even a paycut for next season. His leadership was invaluable this season, but that only goes so far as time goes on. You can't have a captain who is around more for emeritus reasons than what he can deliver on the ice, and that's where all concerned - including Foote himself - have to be realistic in a cold-hearted offseason evaluation, both of his 2009-10 play and a projection of what he will be able to contribute in April of 2011." http://www.denverpost.com/avalanche/ci_15000230
