John-Michael Liles News

Ryan Smyth, right, works the puck behind the goal as Boston's Andrew Ference comes in on defense during the third period on opening night Thursday, October 9, 2008 at Pepsi Center.

Here we are again. It's that time of year to tell the Avalanche what it needs to do to win another Stanley Cup.

The Colorado Avalanche were bracing for life without Joe Sakic, fearing their longtime captain might skate away rather than return for a 20th season.

Chris Stewart made a better impression at this year's Avalanche training camp than at last year's. But the result was the same for the 2006 first- round draft pick: a demotion to the minor leagues.

One of the Avalanche's priorities this season is to make significant improvements in special-teams play, a definite sore spot a year ago.

Smyth took a cross-ice pass from Paul Stastny and beat Stars goalie Matt Climie at the right post with 1:22 left in the second period to break a scoreless tie.

Marek Svatos, coming off knee surgery for a torn ACL, looked good in today's practice drills and should be available Wednesday when the Avalanche plays Dallas at the Pepsi Center.

Avalanche defenseman John-Michael Liles escaped a potentially serious injury after the butt-end of a stick from Kings forward Dustin Brown caught him under the right eye during Saturday night's exhibition game ...

Avalanche defenseman John-Michael Liles, suffered through a difficult season with Colorado last year, but re-signed with the club in the offseason and is looking forward to have a good bounce-back season this ...

Five months, as opposed to 24 hours. For Tony Granato, that is the difference in time he'll have to prepare for his first game as Avalanche coach - the second time around.

Teemu Selanne will be at the Anaheim Ducks' training camp even though he's yet to sign a contract for the upcoming season.

Avalanche captain Joe Sakic pulled rank Friday and instituted what he called the "old-man rule," thereby getting himself out of fitness testing.

By Rick Sadowski , Rocky Mountain News Poll How successful will the Avalanche be this season? Brian Bahr / Getty Images/2001 Joe Sakic hoists the Stanley Cup during a 2001 parade in the streets of downtown ...

Advantage Margin +34 The Avs were the best team in the NHL at staying out of the penalty box.

Regardless of what the Blues did in free agency this summer, nobody in the organization had bigger offseason plans than Dan Hinote.

The Colorado Avalanche aren't close to the dominant force that won them the Stanley Cup back in 1996 and once again in 2001.

The Lightning signed forward Ryan Malone to a seven-year, $31.5-million contract Monday.

The Tampa Bay Lightning signed former Penguins left winger Ryan Malone to a seven-year contract yesterday.

The Colorado Avalanche re-signed defenseman John-Michael Liles of Zionsville, Ind., to a four-year, $16 million contract.

AVALANCHE: The Colorado Avalanche re-signed Adam Foote to a two-year contract and John-Michael Liles to a four-year deal Monday.