AVS SHORT-HANDED IN DEFENSIVE ZONE

glendale, ariz. Avalanche coach Patrick Roy likes to carry eight defensemen but has had just six since RyanWilson (shoulder) and Brad Stuart (hamstring) went down with injuries.

Roy has no one to scratch on game days or call on if one of his defensemen is injured at a morning skate.

But for now, Roy is banking on good health and for Stuart to get healthy— partly because of salary-cap limitations. The Avs are currently just $891,145 under the cap as the NHL’s second most-expensive team. The Philadelphia Flyers are the league’s only team with less cap space ($591,667).

Stuart’s recovery does not yet include skating, and he could be weeks away.

“Right now our D is playing well. We’re very happy,” Roy said before Tuesday night’s game against the Coyotes. “So right now, unless something happens tonight, I’m not planning on calling (up) anyone as we speak. But down the road things could change.”

Wilson underwent surgery and is out for the season, and his longterm injured reserve status (LTIR) could give the Avs some wiggle room under the salary cap to add reinforcements through a minor-league call-up or a trade. Wilson has a $2.25 million cap hit, but his LTIR erases some of that from the Avs’ cap hit, approximately $1 million.

Problem is, the injuries to goalie Semyon Varlamov (groin) and forwards JamieMcGinn (back), John Mitchell (leg), JesseWinchester (head), Dennis Everberg (shoulder) and Patrick Bordeleau— none traveled with the team— has forced Colorado to call up a goalie and three forwards from the AmericanHockey Leaguewho combine for a $2.7million cap hit.

Thus, Colorado is somewhat handcuffed in adding a defenseman — unless it trades a forward for one.

“For a trade, Joe (Sakic) will have to (talk) about that, but on my side right now I’m comfortable with the six D,” Roy said.

Footnote.

Forward Alex Tanguay (facial fracture) was the only Avs player in Glendalewho didn’t play, missing his second consecutive game. Mike Chambers, The Denver Post