Tony Granato News

Joe Sacco, a rookie NHL head coach, has guided the Avalanche to the Western Conference's best record .

That's a great question right now, and you have to believe the brass at Team USA are starting to think about Andy.

Colorado Avalanche head coach Joe Sacco, back, directs his team while right winger Chris Stewart, front left, and right winger Marek Svatos, of Slovakia, look on in a game against the Carolina Hurricanes last Friday.

Wojtek Wolski, battling Kris Draper, is the Avs' leading scorer with 10 points, but his play has caused coach Joe Sacco to sit him on the bench during games.

A quick glance at the NHL standings reveals a surprising fact...the Colorado Avalanche are the best team in the Western Conference.

The Penguins' Sidney Crosby practiced Tuesday at Southpointe for the first time since leaving an exhibition game at Columbus last Thursday with tightness in his groin area.

Growing up in Canada, Matt Duchene had his room decorated in a Colorado Avalanche motif.

The job description was daunting: Join the staff of a wildly successful coach, albeit one with only 49 games of NHL experience; fill a void created by the popular departed assistant; and walk into the dressing room of a tight-knit club led by two superstar centers and a big-game goalie.

Coach Joe Sacco has had his game face on, and he is expecting regular-season intensity from the Avs tonight.

NHL training camp - don't blink or you'll miss it. Officially, the Avalanche's training camp for the 2009-10 season lasts three days - starting today at Family Sports Center in Centennial.

Tony Granato has been fired from the Colorado Avalanche. Photograph by: Dave Reginek, Getty Images Excuse me if I suggest the Colorado Avalanche's management re-organization sounds a little like a shuffling of deck chairs on the Titanic.

In the push to stop global warming, many experts are hearing a mighty rushing wind.

Penguins name Granato assistant coach Tony Granato has been fired as the head coach of the Colorado Avalanche, who also let go five other members of the club's hockey operations department Wednesday.

Although playoffs are certainly a long-shot for the '09-'10 Avalanche, there is no shortage of intrigue surrounding this team.

David Quinn represents one of several connections between Boston University and the Colorado Avalanche.

Tony Granato, replaced as the Colorado Avalanche's coach for the second time after last season, has been hired as a Pittsburgh Penguins assistant coach.

Penguins name Granato assistant coach Tony Granato has been fired as the head coach of the Colorado Avalanche, who also let go five other members of the club's hockey operations department Wednesday.

Pierre Lacroix was using a cane at Joe Sakic's retirement news conference Thursday, but the Avalanche president considered that a major step forward.

With all these rockets blasting in an Avs red glare, it's time to look forward to what this July means and brings to the Colorado Avalanche's next season and beyond.

Last updated on Tuesday, Jul. 07, 2009 05:53PM EDT J oe Sakic, the Colorado Avalanche's longtime captain who led the team to two Stanley Cup titles, is retiring after a 20-year NHL career, a person familiar with the situation told The Associated Press on Tuesday.