Avalanche at a glance
	Camp schedule: Sept. 10-16: Globe Arena (Stockholm, Sweden) Sept. 17-18: Hartwall Arena (Helsinki, Finland) Sept. 11-19: Hersheypark Arena (Hersey, Pa., for players not traveling to Europe) Sept. 21: Family Sports, Pepsi Arena (Denver) Coach: Bob Hartley (4th season, 138-73-31-5) General manager: Pierre Lacroix (8th season, 303-161-72-5)

After the Avalanche won the franchise's second championship in its six seasons in Denver, the issue was whether Colorado could afford success. The Avs managed to re-sign all three stars who could have been unrestricted free agents on July 1 -- Joe Sakic, Rob Blake and Patrick Roy. Sakic made the most financial "sacrifice" to stay, since he could have gotten significantly more on the open market than the $10.1 million a season he got from the Avs. With those three back, Colorado is capable of a repeat -- especially if Peter Forsberg, as is expected, is just as super minus his spleen.

Replacing No. 77: The only place the Avs might regress is on defense, following Ray Bourque's triumphant retreat into clean-shaven retirement, and Colorado's half-hearted attempt to re-sign steady defenseman Jon Klemm. (Hey, the comptroller had to have a veto somewhere.) Klemm signed with the Blackhawks for far more than the Avs were willing to pay. But if Todd Gill, who was with the Red Wings last season and played well in streaks, is healthy, he should help compensate. Colorado's rotation will be Adam Foote, Blake, Martin Skoula, Greg de Vries, Gill and probably rookie Rick Berry or veteran Bryan Muir.

Olympian task: Was it coincidence? In 1998, when the Avalanche supplied a handful of players to Olympic teams, they flamed out in the postseason, blowing a first-round series to Edmonton and setting the stage for coach Marc Crawford's exit. This season, as many as nine Avs will be at the Olympics, and it's possible this could be a tired team when the playoffs start. Colorado coach Bob Hartley needs to be conscious of allowing some of the vets games or time off down the stretch.

Cup hangover: It's almost impossible to avoid. The Devils at times seemed to be a team without as much desire as the year before, and it could happen to the Avs -- especially in a season in which they play exhibition games in Sweden and Finland and have so many participants in the Winter Games.

Avalanche 2001-02 preseason schedule
Date	Opponent	Time
Sat., Sept. 15	vs. Djurgarden at Globe Arena, Stockholm, Sweden	Canceled
Sun., Sept. 16	vs. Brynas at Globe Arena, Stockholm, Sweden	11:00 a.m.
Tue., Sept. 18	vs. Jokerit at Hartwell Arena, Helsinki, Finland	Canceled
Sat., Sept. 22	Dallas	9 p.m.
Sun., Sept. 23	Phoenix	9 p.m.
Wed., Sept. 26	at Phoenix	2 p.m.
Tue., Sept. 27	at Dallas	8:30 p.m.
Sat., Sept. 29	at Los Angeles	10:30 p.m.
Mon., Oct. 1	Los Angeles	9 p.m.