| | DENVER -- Colorado Avalanche general manager Pierre Lacroix on Monday signed a long-term contract extension.
Don Elliman, president of Ascent Sports Holdings which owns the
Avalanche, called the deal to re-sign Lacroix an effort to "tie up
loose ends" for a franchise which has been in an uncertain
ownership situation since last summer.
Elliman and Lacroix declined comment on the length of
Lacroix's extension.
"We laughingly say that this is a deal that should take Pierre
to the first tee whenever he chooses to head in that direction,"
Elliman said.
"We are getting a man who I believe is -- if not the best --
certainly one of the best general managers in all of hockey,
committed to the Avalanche for the long term," Elliman said.
Lacroix, 51, has been general manager of the Avalanche since May
1994, when the club was in Quebec. Since his appointment, as the
fourth general manager, the team has compiled the second-best
winning percentage in the NHL.
Because the ownership of the Colorado Avalanche has been in
question, there was speculation that Lacroix would look elsewhere
for a management position.
"I had a contract situation where I had the privilege to look
around," Lacroix said. "But why would I start all over again when
everything was in place here?" | |
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