Avalanche Sign Quincey, Winnik, Six Others

[lakingsfan19]

The Colorado Avalanche Hockey Club announced today that the team has agreed to terms with defenseman Kyle Quincey and forward Daniel Winnik each to a two-year contract. Both players were restricted free agents.

“We are pleased to have Kyle and Daniel under contract,” said Avalanche General Manager / Executive Vice President Greg Sherman. “Kyle was a big part of our defense last season and we expect him to continue in that role. As I stated earlier this week, we are counting on Daniel to be an important part of our team.”

Quincey, 24, led the Avalanche in ice time at 23:36 per game while appearing in 79 contests during his first season with Colorado in 2009-10. He finished second among team defensemen in scoring with 29 points (6g/23a) and ranked third among all Avalanche players in plus/minus with a +9 rating. The Kitchener, Ontario native ranked second on the club in hits (115) and was third in blocked shots (143). Quincey went on to skate in all six playoff games for the Avalanche (0g/0a), finishing third on the team in postseason ice time (22:06) and second in plus/minus (+2).

Quincey has appeared in 164 career games in the NHL, tallying 68 points (11g/57a) and 143 penalty minutes with Detroit, Los Angeles and Colorado. Originally selected by Detroit in the fourth round (132nd overall) in the 2003 Entry Draft, the 6-foot-2, 207-pound rearguard was acquired by the Avalanche from the Kings on July 3, 2009.

Winnik, 25, was acquired from the Phoenix Coyotes this past Monday (June 28) in exchange for a fourth-round selection in the 2012 NHL Entry Draft. He appeared in 74 games for the Coyotes in 2009-10, tallying 19 points (4g/15a) with a +1 plus/minus rating. Winnik led all Coyotes forwards with 54 blocked shots and was second on the club in takeaways with 30. The 6-foot-2, 210-pound left wing was also among the team leaders in short-handed time on ice, averaging 3:04 per game (third most on the squad). Winnik went on to skate in all seven playoff games for Phoenix.

Originally selected by Phoenix in the ninth round (265th overall) of the 2004 Entry Draft, the Toronto native has appeared in 202 career games in the NHL, tallying 52 points (18g/34a). Prior to turning pro, Winnik played three seasons at the University of New Hampshire, where he was named a Hockey East Second Team All-Star as a junior in 2005-06.

The Avalanche also announced today that the club has agreed to terms with defenseman David Liffiton, forwards Greg Mauldin, Julian Talbot and David Van Der Gulik, and goaltenders Jason Bacashihua and John Grahame all to one-year deals.

Liffiton, 25, was Colorado’s first selection (second round, 63rd overall) in the 2003 Entry Draft. He spent the 2009-10 season with the Syracuse Crunch of the American Hockey League, where he collected 20 points (5g/15a) and 118 penalty minutes in 72 games. A native of Windsor, Ontario, Liffiton has played in three NHL games with the New York Rangers, one in 2005-06 and two in 2006-07. The 6-foot-2, 210-pound blueliner was traded by Colorado to New York on March 8, 2004.

Mauldin, 28, spent most of this past season with the New York Islanders’ American Hockey League affiliate, the Bridgeport Sound Tigers, where he led the team in scoring with 54 points (25g/29a) in 77 games. He also appeared in one game with the Islanders, April 8 at Pittsburgh (no points). Originally selected by Columbus in the seventh round (199th overall) of the 2002 Entry Draft, the Boston native has played in seven career NHL games, six with the Blue Jackets and one with the Islanders (0g/0a).

Talbot, 25, was acquired from St. Louis last month on June 17. He spent the past three seasons with the Blues’ AHL affiliate, the Peoria Rivermen, where he collected 32 points (17g/15a) in 76 games for the Rivermen in 2009-10. The Wahnapitae, Ontario native was originally signed by St. Louis as a free agent on March 19, 2008.

Van Der Gulik, 27, spent the 2009-10 campaign with Calgary’s AHL affiliate, the Abbotsford Heat. He tallied 40 points (16g/24a) in 64 games, ranking him second on the Heat in scoring. The Abbotsford, B.C., native appeared in six games with the Flames in 2008-09, collecting two assists. Van Der Gulik was Calgary’s 10th selection (206th overall) in the 2002 Entry Draft.

Bacashihua, 27, spent last season with the Hershey Bears of the American Hockey League after signing with Hershey on July 31, 2009. The Garden City, Mich., native posted a 17-3-1 record in 22 games, winning 77% of his appearances. He added a 2.48 goals-against average, .911 save percentage and one shutout for the eventual Calder Cup champions.

Bacashihua spent the 2007-08 and 2008-09 campaigns in the Avalanche’s system, playing for both the Lake Erie Monsters (AHL) and Johnstown Chiefs (ECHL). Originally a first-round pick (26th overall) by Dallas in the 2001 Entry Draft, Bacashihua has appeared in 38 NHL games as a member of the St. Louis Blues, compiling a 7-17-4 career mark.

Grahame, 34, ended the 2009-10 season in the Avalanche’s system, appearing in 14 games with Lake Erie. He also played in 12 games with the AHL’s Adirondack Phantoms. Grahame was a combined 6-17-3 with a 3.17 GAA between the two stops. A native of Denver, Grahame has appeared in 224 career NHL games, posting a 97-86-18 record with a 2.79 GAA and 12 shutouts.

Selected by Boston (229th overall) in the 1994 Entry Draft, Grahame has played for the Bruins, Tampa Bay Lightning and Carolina Hurricanes. He captured a Stanley Cup as a member of the Lightning in 2003-04 and represented the United States at the 2006 Olympic Winter Games in Torino, Italy.

[avamania2003]

It's a start lol ! Thanks man

[HordiBrusk29]

David Liffiton, Greg Mauldin, David Van Der Gulik, Julian Talbot and John Grahame

[caps05]

Originally Posted by HordiBrusk29

David Lifiton, Greg Mauldin, David Van Der Gulik, Julian Talbot and John Grahame

By the way Hordi, Liffiton's name is spelled with 2 F's.

Good to see Colorado getting some toughness for Lake Erie.

[IhateLindros]

Mauldin was a gem for Bridgeport. Lake Eerie just got a decent player there.

[Purely_Purinton]

Good to see Colorado helping out Lake Erie, Mauldin is a great AHLer, and AHL vets like him seem to be harder and harder to come by lately with guys jumping overseas. Liffiton is a gamer, had a nice comeback year with Syracuse and is back with the team that drafted him. Hope to see him land a call-up some time this year!

[Podollan]

finally some toughness for lake erie! great news.

[bruiser11]

Kyle Quincey is a solid D-Man that would be a sweet pick up for any team's blue-line.