Looking to upgrade their roster, the Colorado Avalanche made a pair of signings as free agency opened on Friday, bringing in a couple of players already familiar with the Mile High City. The team signed defenseman Patrick Wiercioch to a one-year contract worth $800,000. The Avs then reportedly signed center Joe Colborne to a two-year contract with an average annual value of $2.5 million.
Wiercioch and Colborne were teammates at the University of Denver, with each player turning pro in 2010, after two seasons.
Prior to signing with the Avalanche, Wiercioch had spent his entire career with the Ottawa Senators. Last season, the 25-year-old scored five points in 52 games, also accumulating 24 penalty minutes, while registering a plus-2 rating. He is known as a very smart hockey player, has great possession numbers and good size (6’5”, 201 pounds).
Colborne has spent the last three seasons with the Calgary Flames. Last season, the 26-year-old set new career highs with 19 goals and 44 points in 73 games. He also had 27 penalty minutes and a minus-9 rating. Surprisingly, he was not given a qualifying offer. A versatile player, Colborne can play center or wing. A hulking man (6’5”, 220 pounds), he plays a solid power game, with some offensive upside.
