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 Tuesday, January 18
Lacroix deal brings stability to Avs management
 
Associated Press Writer

  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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