Editing Colorado Avalanche (section)

====Remaining competitive (2001–2010)====
In the [[2001–02 NHL season|2001–02 season]], Colorado finished the regular season with 99 points from a 45–28–8–1 record, winning the Northwest Division. Colorado had the league's lowest goals conceded: 169, an average of 2.06 per game. The NHL season was interrupted by the [[2002 Winter Olympics]] in [[Salt Lake City]]. The Avalanche had nine players representing six countries. [[Canada men's national ice hockey team|Canada]] won the [[Ice hockey at the 2002 Winter Olympics|ice hockey tournament]], with Rob Blake, [[Adam Foote]], and Joe Sakic won gold medals. [[United States men's national ice hockey team|American]] Chris Drury took home a silver medal.<ref name="recordbook" /> With the win, Blake and Sakic became members of the Triple Gold Club.<ref name="triplegoldclub" /> The Avalanche advanced through the first two rounds of the playoffs, winning 4–3 against the Los Angeles Kings and 4–3 against the San Jose Sharks. Patrick Roy had a shutout on the decisive game of each series.<ref>{{Cite news|title =2002 Colorado Avalanche Team Preview|url =http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/hockey/news/2002/09/17/2002_avalanchepreview/|archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20020920101400/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/hockey/news/2002/09/17/2002_avalanchepreview/|url-status =dead|archive-date =September 20, 2002|author =Dolezar, Jon A.|publisher =[[CNN Sports Illustrated]]|date =September 17, 2002|access-date =July 10, 2007}}</ref> The Avalanche made the conference finals for the fourth consecutive season (and sixth overall in the last seven seasons), meeting the Detroit Red Wings in the playoffs for the fifth time in seven years. Colorado had a 3–2 lead after five games, but lost Game 6 at home, 2–0, and Game 7 in Detroit, 7–0. As in 1997, Detroit went on to win the [[2002 Stanley Cup Finals|Stanley Cup]]. Peter Forsberg was the playoffs' leading scorer with 27 points (9 goals, 18 assists).<ref name="playoffsl" /> Roy won the [[William M. Jennings Trophy]], given to the goaltenders of the team with fewest goals scored against. Roy and Sakic were both elected to the [[NHL All-Star team|NHL's First All-Star Team]], with Rob Blake elected to the Second All-Star Team.

The following season, [[2002–03 NHL season|2002–03]], saw the Avalanche claim the NHL record for most consecutive division titles, nine,<ref name="divtitrec">The 1994–95 Division title was won while the franchise was still in Quebec and together with the eight titles the Avalanche won between 1995 and 1996 and 2002–03 makes the record number of nine consecutive division titles</ref> breaking the Montreal Canadiens' streak of eight titles from 1974 to 1982.<ref>{{Cite news|title =NHL Hockey: Colorado Avalanche Team Report|url =http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-99870515.html|archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20110624034930/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-99870515.html|url-status =dead|archive-date =June 24, 2011|publisher =[[The Sports Network]]|date =April 10, 2003|access-date =June 17, 2007}}</ref> The division title came after a bad start by the team, that led to the exit of head coach Bob Hartley in December.<ref>{{Cite news|title =Roy, Avs put clamps on Red Wings|url =https://www.usatoday.com/sports/hockey/games/2003-02-06-avalanche-redwings_x.htm|author =Allen, Kevin|website =[[USA Today]]|date =February 6, 2003|access-date =June 17, 2007}}</ref> General manager Pierre Lacroix promoted assistant coach [[Tony Granato]], who had only three months of coaching experience as an assistant, to the head coach position.<ref name="quenneville">{{Cite news|title =Avs make bench switch to Quenneville|url =https://www.usatoday.com/sports/hockey/nhl/avalanche/2004-07-07-avs-coaching-change_x.htm|author =Marshall, John|agency =Associated Press|date =July 7, 2004|access-date =June 17, 2007 | work=USA Today}}</ref> The team's playoff spot seemed in doubt at one point, but the Avalanche managed to finish with 105 points, ahead of the Vancouver Canucks by one. The race to the title was exciting, namely the second-to-last game of the season, as the Avalanche needed to win the game to stay in the race, and Milan Hejduk scored with ten seconds left in overtime to defeat the [[Anaheim Ducks|Mighty Ducks of Anaheim]].<ref>{{Cite news|title=Colorado 4, Anaheim 3 |url=http://sportsline.com/nhl/gamecenter/recap/NHL_20030404_COL@ANA |publisher=CBS Sportsline |date=April 5, 2003 |access-date=May 6, 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20031006162926/http://www.sportsline.com/nhl/gamecenter/recap/NHL_20030404_COL%40ANA |archive-date=October 6, 2003}}</ref> The title was guaranteed in the final day of the regular season, when the Avalanche defeated the St. Louis Blues 5–2 and the Vancouver Canucks lost against the Los Angeles Kings 2–0.<ref>{{Cite news|title=Avalanche win game, Northwest; Hejduk gets 50th |url=http://sportsline.com/nhl/gamecenter/recap/NHL_20030406_STL@COL |publisher=CBS Sportsline |date=April 6, 2003 |access-date=June 17, 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040720162106/http://www.sportsline.com/nhl/gamecenter/recap/NHL_20030406_STL%40COL |archive-date=July 20, 2004}}</ref> In the conference quarterfinals, the Avalanche blew a 3–1 series lead over the [[Minnesota Wild]], losing in overtime in Game 7.<ref>{{Cite magazine|title = Minnesota 3, Colorado 2|url =http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/hockey/nhl/recaps/2003/04/22/col_min/|archive-url =https://archive.today/20120715205351/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/hockey/nhl/recaps/2003/04/22/col_min/|url-status =dead|archive-date =July 15, 2012|magazine=Sports Illustrated|date=April 22, 2003|access-date =March 25, 2007}}</ref> Peter Forsberg won the [[Art Ross Trophy]] for the leading scorer of the regular season, which he finished with 106 points (29 goals, 77 assists). Forsberg also won the Hart Memorial Trophy for the regular season's most valuable player, and shared the [[NHL Plus/Minus Award]] with teammate Hejduk. Hejduk scored 50 goals to win the [[Maurice "Rocket" Richard Trophy]], awarded annually to the leading goal scorer in the NHL. Forsberg was elected to the NHL's First All-Star Team; Hejduk was elected to the Second All-Star Team.

Patrick Roy retired after that season, and the team signed star wingers [[Paul Kariya]] from the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim, and [[Teemu Selänne|Teemu Selanne]] from the San Jose Sharks.<ref>{{Cite news|title=Patrick Roy retires after 18 years |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/patrick-roy-retires-after-18-years-1.399142 |publisher=[[Canadian Broadcasting Corporation]] |date=May 28, 2003 |access-date=June 17, 2007 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071013194014/http://cbc.ca/canada/story/2003/05/28/roy_retires030528.html |archive-date=October 13, 2007}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|title =Avalanche sign Kariya, Selanne to one-year deals|url =http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/hockey/news/2003/07/03/avs_signings_ap/|archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20040926060903/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/hockey/news/2003/07/03/avs_signings_ap/|url-status =dead|archive-date =September 26, 2004|agency =Associated Press|date =July 3, 2003|access-date =March 25, 2007 | publisher=CNN}}</ref> Both struggled during their first season with the team—Kariya spent most of the [[2003–04 NHL season|2003–04 season]] injured and Selanne scored only 32 points (16 goals and 16 assists) in 78 games.<ref>{{cite news|title=Passion is back for Selanne |url=http://www.rockymountainnews.com/drmn/sports_columnists/article/0,1299,DRMN_83_5422098,00.html |author=Sadowski, Rick |newspaper=[[Rocky Mountain News]] |date=March 16, 2007 |access-date=May 17, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070930201348/http://www.rockymountainnews.com/drmn/sports_columnists/article/0%2C1299%2CDRMN_83_5422098%2C00.html |archive-date=September 30, 2007 |url-status=dead}}</ref> There were doubts if goaltender [[David Aebischer]] could perform at the top level the team was used to while having Roy.<ref>{{Cite magazine|title =Colorado Avalanche – Fortunately, a souped-up offense will boost the scoring because Patrick Roy is gone|url =http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2003/magazine/10/07/avalanche/index.html|archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20110622114815/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2003/magazine/10/07/avalanche/index.html|url-status =dead|archive-date =June 22, 2011|author =Cannella, Stephen|magazine=[[Sports Illustrated]]|date =October 3, 2003|access-date =July 10, 2007}}</ref> Having "nine elite players",<ref>{{Cite news|title =2003–2004 NHL Season Preview: Colorado Avalanche|url =http://proicehockey.about.com/cs/nhlseasonpreview/a/03_04avalanche.htm|author =Fitzpatrick, Jamie|publisher =[[About.com]]|date =September 2, 2003|access-date =June 17, 2007|archive-date =January 23, 2008|archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20080123185128/http://proicehockey.about.com/cs/nhlseasonpreview/a/03_04avalanche.htm|url-status =dead}}</ref> "the most talented top six forwards on one team since the days of the Edmonton Oilers"<ref>{{Cite news|title=Avs' silver lining has a cloud |url=https://www.espn.com/nhl/news/story?page=2003pvw/col |author=Heika, Mike |publisher=[[ESPN]] |date=September 24, 2003 |access-date=June 17, 2007 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050125184030/http://sports.espn.go.com/nhl/news/story?page=2003pvw%2Fcol |archive-date=January 25, 2005}}</ref> was not good enough as the franchise failed to win the Northwest Division title, ending the NHL record streak. The 40–22–13–7 record was good enough for 100 points, one less than the Northwest Division champion Vancouver Canucks. This ended a streak of nine consecutive division titles dating to the team's last year in Quebec.<ref name="his" />

During a game against Vancouver on March 8, 2004, Canucks player [[Todd Bertuzzi]] [[Todd Bertuzzi–Steve Moore incident|punched]] Colorado's [[Steve Moore (ice hockey)|Steve Moore]] from behind, leaving Moore unconscious. It was said to be retaliation for a hit Moore had delivered to Canucks captain [[Markus Näslund|Markus Naslund]] the month before.<ref>{{cite news |title=Ex-Avalanche player May enjoys new surroundings |url=http://www.rockymountainnews.com/drmn/nhl/article/0,2777,DRMN_23920_5567449,00.html |author=Sadowski, Rick |newspaper=[[Rocky Mountain News]] |date=June 2, 2007 |access-date=June 18, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070930220937/http://www.rockymountainnews.com/drmn/nhl/article/0%2C2777%2CDRMN_23920_5567449%2C00.html |archive-date=September 30, 2007 |url-status=dead}}</ref> Moore sustained three fractured [[Cervical vertebrae|neck vertebrae]], among other injuries caused by the hit and subsequent pile up, ending his career.<ref>{{Cite news|title =Moore seeks further damages from Bertuzzi|url =https://www.usatoday.com/sports/hockey/nhl/2006-03-07-moore-bertuzzi_x.htm|agency =Associated Press|date =March 7, 2006|access-date =June 18, 2006 | work=USA Today}}</ref> Bertuzzi was away from professional hockey for 17 months as a result of suspensions.<ref>{{Cite news|title =Simon suspended minimum of 25 games|url =https://www.espn.com/nhl/news/story?id=2794638|agency =Associated Press|date =March 12, 2007|access-date =June 18, 2007}}</ref> In Denver, after the Moore hit, it became tradition for the home fans to boo Todd Bertuzzi every time he gained possession of the puck, whenever his team faced the Avalanche at Pepsi Center.

In the [[2004 Stanley Cup playoffs|2004 playoffs]], Colorado won the conference quarterfinals against the Dallas Stars in five games, but lost in the conference semifinals against the Sharks in six games. Joe Sakic was, once again, elected to the [[2004 National Hockey League All-Star Game|2004 All-star team]], winning the [[NHL/Sheraton Road Performer Award]], and became the first Avalanche player ever to be chosen as game [[Most valuable player|MVP]], when he scored a [[hat-trick]].<ref name="recordbook" /> In July 2004, [[Joel Quenneville]] was hired for the position of head coach, replacing Tony Granato, who became his assistant.<ref name="quenneville" />

The [[2004–05 NHL season]] was canceled because of an [[2004–05 NHL lockout|unresolved lockout]]. During the lockout, many Avalanche players played in European leagues.<ref name="nhleuropelockout">{{cite web|url=https://www.tsn.ca/nhl/feature/?fid=9951&hubname=|title=NHLers in Europe|publisher=TSN|access-date=October 31, 2006|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070613200214/http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/feature/?fid=9951&hubname=|archive-date=June 13, 2007|url-status=dead}}</ref> David Aebischer returned home with [[Alex Tanguay]] to play for Swiss club [[Hockey Club Lugano|HC Lugano]]; Milan Hejduk and Peter Forsberg returned to their former teams in their native countries, [[HC Pardubice]] and [[Modo Hockey]]. Nine other players from the roster played in Europe during the lockout.<ref name="nhleuropelockout" />

After the [[2004–05 NHL lockout|2004–05 lockout]] and implementation of a salary cap, the Avalanche were forced to release some of their top players. Peter Forsberg and Adam Foote were lost in free agency to save room in the cap for Joe Sakic and Rob Blake.<ref>{{Cite news|title =Sakic, Blake to stay; Forsberg, Foote up in air|url =https://www.espn.com/nhl/news/story?id=2116068|agency =Associated Press|date =July 26, 2005|access-date =March 25, 2007}}</ref> Although the salary cap was a blow to one of the highest spenders of the league,<ref>{{Cite news|title=Winners, losers, undecided in wake of free-agent frenzy |url=http://www.sportsline.com/nhl/story/8790788 |author=Goldstein, Wes |publisher=CBS Sportsline |date=August 31, 2005 |access-date=March 25, 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051001013057/http://sportsline.com/nhl/story/8790788 |archive-date=October 1, 2005}}</ref> the team finished the [[2005–06 NHL season|2005–06 regular season]] with a 43–30–9 record for 95 points, good enough to finish second in the Division, seven behind the [[Calgary Flames]] and tied with the Edmonton Oilers. The season paused in February for the [[Ice hockey at the 2006 Winter Olympics – Men's tournament|2006 Winter Olympics]] in [[Turin]], Italy. The Avalanche sent a league-leading 11 players from eight countries.<ref name="only" /> [[Finland national men's ice hockey team|Finalnd]]'s [[Antti Laaksonen]] earned the silver medal, while [[Ossi Väänänen|Ossi Vaananen]] ended up not playing because of an injury; Milan Hejduk won a bronze medal with the [[Czech Republic men's national ice hockey team|Czech Republic team]].<ref name="recordbook" /> In the conference quarterfinals, Colorado defeated Dallas Stars team that had the second-best record in the conference, in five games. The team was swept in the conference semifinals by the [[Anaheim Ducks]].

The next day, Pierre Lacroix resigned after service as GM since 1994 and [[François Giguère]] was hired as his replacement.<ref>{{Cite news|title =Lacroix steps down as Colorado GM|url =https://www.usatoday.com/sports/hockey/nhl/avalanche/2006-05-12-lacroix-resigns_x.htm|agency =Associated Press|date =May 12, 2006|access-date =March 25, 2007 | work=USA Today}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|title =Avs hire Giguere as team's general manager|url =https://www.espn.com/nhl/news/story?id=2456902|agency =Associated Press|date =May 24, 2006|access-date =March 25, 2007}}</ref> Lacroix remained president of the franchise until spring 2013, when the team owner's son, Josh Kroenke, took over as team president and governor. Pierre Lacroix remained an advisor to the team until his death in 2020 from [[COVID-19]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/nhl/story/_/id/9262650/pierre-lacroix-stepping-avalanche-president|title=Lacroix stepping down as Avalanche president|date=May 10, 2013}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=O'Brien |first=James |title=Pierre Lacroix, former Avalanche GM, dies at age 72 |url=https://nhl.nbcsports.com/2020/12/13/pierre-lacroix-former-avalanche-gm-dies-at-72/ |access-date=June 29, 2022 |website=ProHockeyTalk |date=December 13, 2020}}</ref>

By the beginning of the [[2006–07 NHL season|2006–07 season]], Joe Sakic and Milan Hejduk were the only two remaining members from the 2000–01 Stanley Cup-winning squad, with Sakic being the only one from the team's days in Quebec, though Hejduk ''was'' drafted by the Nordiques. [[Paul Stastny]], son of Nordiques legend [[Peter Šťastný|Peter Stastny]], also provided a link to the franchise's past. Before the previous season's playoffs, in a move reminiscent of Patrick Roy's trade, the Avalanche traded Aebischer to the Montreal Canadiens for the [[Vezina Trophy]]-winning [[José Théodore|Jose Theodore]].<ref>{{Cite news|title =Theodore traded to Avs, Aebischer goes to Canadiens|url =https://www.usatoday.com/sports/hockey/nhl/2006-03-08-theodore-aebischer_x.htm|agency =Associated Press|date =March 8, 2006|access-date =June 22, 2007 | work=USA Today}}</ref> However, the move would not turn out to be as successful when Theodore posted a 13–15–1 record in 2006–07, with an .891 [[save percentage]], and 3.26 [[goals against average]] (GAA). His US$6&nbsp;million salary became a heavy burden for the Avalanche in the salary cap era.<ref>{{Cite news|title =Buyouts? New deals? Which way do teams lean during free agency?|url =https://www.espn.com/nhl/columns/story?columnist=frei_terry&id=2912001|author =Frei, Terry|publisher =[[ESPN]]|date =June 21, 2007|access-date =June 22, 2007}}</ref> That same season saw an 11-year sell-out streak of 487 home games ended on October 16, 2006, in a home game against the Chicago Blackhawks, that saw the Pepsi Center under capacity by 326 seats.<ref name="selloutstreak">{{Cite news|title =Avs see sellout streak get away|url =http://www.denverpost.com/avalanche/ci_4503924|author =Frei, Terry|website =The Denver Post|date =October 17, 2006|access-date =March 25, 2007}}</ref> The sell-out streak was an all-time NHL record for the longest consecutive attendance sell-outs at home games with 487; and began on November 9, 1995, on the Avalanche's eighth regular season home game during the [[1995–96 NHL season|1995–96 season]] at the [[McNichols Sports Arena]].<ref>{{Cite news|title=Avalanche Reaches 500th Sellout in Denver |url=http://avalanche.nhl.com/team/app?articleid=318947&page=NewsPage&service=page |publisher=Colorado Avalanche |date=January 20, 2007 |access-date=March 25, 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071012115039/http://avalanche.nhl.com/team/app?articleid=318947&page=NewsPage&service=page |archive-date=October 12, 2007}}</ref> The record has since been broken by the Pittsburgh Penguins, who saw their own streak end in October 2021 at 633 games.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Skrbina |first=Paul |title=Nashville Predators' sellout streak ends at 192 |url=https://www.tennessean.com/story/sports/nhl/predators/2021/10/26/nashville-predators-sellout-streak-ends-192-game-nhl-attendance/8562088002/ |access-date=June 29, 2022 |website=The Tennessean}}</ref>

The Avalanche missed the playoffs for the 2006–07 season, missing it for the first time since [[1993–94 NHL season|1993–94]], when they were still in Quebec. The team had a 15–2–2 run in the last 19 games of the season to keep their playoffs hopes alive until the penultimate day of the season. A 4–2 loss against the Nashville Predators on April 7, with former player Peter Forsberg assisting the game-winning goal scored by another former player, Paul Kariya, eliminated Colorado from the playoff race.<ref>{{cite web |title=Nashville Predators at Colorado Avalanche Box Score – April 7, 2007 |url=https://www.hockey-reference.com/boxscores/200704070COL.html |website=Hockey-Reference.com |access-date=November 26, 2018}}</ref> As consolation, the team won the last game of the season against the Calgary Flames the following day and finished fourth in the Northwest Division and ninth in the Western Conference with a 44–31–7 record for 95 points, one less than eighth-seeded Calgary. Nonetheless, the result was greater than expected by hockey pundits; ''[[Sports Illustrated]]'' previewed before the start of the season that the Avalanche would finish 13th in the Western Conference.<ref>{{Cite news|title =Western Conference – SI predicts how they'll finish|url =http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2006/hockey/nhl/specials/preview/2006/09/26/rankings.western.preview/index.html|archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20061027162216/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2006/hockey/nhl/specials/preview/2006/09/26/rankings.western.preview/index.html|url-status =dead|archive-date =October 27, 2006| publisher=CNN|date =September 26, 2006|access-date =July 10, 2007}}</ref> During that last game of the season, Joe Sakic scored a goal and two assists and became the second-oldest player in NHL history to reach 100 points, behind only [[Gordie Howe]], who had 103 points at age 40 in the [[1968–69 NHL season|1968–69 season]].<ref>{{cite news |last1=STAPLETON |first1=ARNIE |title=Sakic Reaches 100 Points As Avs Win |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]] |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/04/08/AR2007040801332.html?noredirect=on |access-date=November 15, 2018 |date=April 9, 2007}}</ref> During the season, Paul Stastny set an NHL record for longest point streak by a rookie, with 20 games,<ref>{{Cite news|title=Stastny Named To NHL All-Rookie Team |url=http://avalanche.nhl.com/team/app?articleid=319888&page=NewsPage&service=page |publisher=Colorado Avalanche |date=June 14, 2007 |access-date=June 22, 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071012021240/http://avalanche.nhl.com/team/app?articleid=319888&page=NewsPage&service=page |archive-date=October 12, 2007}}</ref> three more than the previous record, held by Teemu Selanne<ref>{{Cite news|title=Stastny Breaks NHL Rookie Record |url=http://avalanche.nhl.com/team/app?articleid=319023&page=NewsPage&service=page |publisher=Colorado Avalanche |date=March 11, 2007 |access-date=June 22, 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071012115044/http://avalanche.nhl.com/team/app?articleid=319023&page=NewsPage&service=page |archive-date=October 12, 2007}}</ref> and [[Kārlis Skrastiņš|Karlis Skrastins]] set a new NHL record for the longest game streak by a defenseman, with 495 games.<ref>{{Cite news|title=Skrastins' Record Streak Ends at 495 |url=http://avalanche.nhl.com/team/app?articleid=319005&page=NewsPage&service=page |publisher=Colorado Avalanche |date=February 25, 2007 |access-date=June 22, 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071012130918/http://avalanche.nhl.com/team/app?articleid=319005&page=NewsPage&service=page |archive-date=October 12, 2007}}</ref> Until the Avalanche's 2006–07 season, no team in the history of the NHL had ever made it to 95 points without earning a spot in the playoffs.<ref>{{Cite news|title=Avs Win Season Finale |url=http://avalanche.nhl.com/team/app?articleid=319057&page=NewsPage&service=page |agency=Associated Press |date=April 8, 2007 |access-date=June 17, 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071012003927/http://avalanche.nhl.com/team/app?articleid=319057&page=NewsPage&service=page |archive-date=October 12, 2007}}</ref> In the [[Eastern Conference (NHL)|Eastern Conference]], three teams progressed to the [[2007 NHL playoffs|playoffs]] with fewer than 95 points: the New York Rangers (94), the [[Tampa Bay Lightning]] (93) and the [[New York Islanders]] (92).

[[File:RyanSmyth.jpg|thumb|upright|The Avalanche signed [[Ryan Smyth]] prior to the [[2007–08 NHL season|2007–08 season]].]]
For the [[2007–08 NHL season|2007–08 season]], the Avalanche signed two free agents: defenseman [[Scott Hannan]] and left winger [[Ryan Smyth]]. These acquisitions filled the team's needs and were expected to help make an impact in the playoffs.<ref>{{Cite news|title=Numbers Game: Rocky Mountain Way |url=https://www.tsn.ca/columnists/scott_cullen/?id=212692 |author=Cullen, Scott |publisher=[[The Sports Network|TSN]] |date=July 3, 2007 |access-date=February 22, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110622111012/https://www.tsn.ca/columnists/scott_cullen/?id=212692 |archive-date=June 22, 2011}}</ref> On February 25, 2008, unrestricted free agent Peter Forsberg signed with the Avalanche for the remainder of the 2007–08 season.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.nhl.com/avalanche/news/forsberg-returns-to-avalanche/c-426949 | title=Forsberg Returns to Avalanche}}</ref> A day later, at the trade deadline, they re-acquired defenseman Adam Foote from the [[Columbus Blue Jackets]] as well as Ruslan Salei from the Florida Panthers.<ref>{{cite web |title=Behold your father's Avs |url=https://www.denverpost.com/2008/02/26/behold-your-fathers-avs/ |website=The Denver Post |access-date=November 26, 2018 |date=February 26, 2008}}</ref> In the conference quarterfinals, Colorado defeated the Minnesota Wild in six games.<ref>{{Cite news|title=Avs win playoff series vs. Wild|url=http://www.denverpost.com/katrina/ci_8985052|author=Adrian Dater|website=The Denver Post|date=April 20, 2008|access-date=June 5, 2008}}</ref> In the conference semifinals, however, the Avalanche were swept<ref>{{Cite news|title=Detroit dumps Avs from postseason|url=http://www.denverpost.com/ci_9124885?IADID=Search-www.denverpost.com-www.denverpost.com|author=Adrian Dater|website=The Denver Post|date=May 2, 2008|access-date=June 5, 2008}}</ref> by the eventual [[2008 Stanley Cup Finals|Stanley Cup champion Detroit Red Wings]].<ref>{{Cite news|title=Red Wings capture Stanley Cup|url=http://www.denverpost.com/avalanche/ci_9482725|author=Adrian Dater|website=The Denver Post|date=June 5, 2008|access-date=June 5, 2008}}</ref>

On May 9, 2008, the Avalanche announced that Joel Quenneville would not return to coach the team next season. Two weeks later, Tony Granato was named head coach of the Avalanche for the second time.<ref>{{cite web |title=Tony Granato returning as head coach of the Colorado Avalanche |url=https://www.nhl.com/news/tony-granato-returning-as-head-coach-of-the-colorado-avalanche/c-364087 |publisher=National Hockey League |access-date=November 15, 2018}}</ref>

The [[2008–09 NHL season|2008–09 season]] was the worst season the Avalanche had since moving to Denver.<ref>{{cite web |title=Colorado Avalanche's decline has left fans disillusioned |url=https://www.denverpost.com/2013/04/06/colorado-avalanches-decline-has-left-fans-disillusioned/ |website=The Denver Post |access-date=November 15, 2018 |date=April 6, 2013}}</ref> Posting a record of 32–45–5, finishing 15th in the Western Conference (28th overall), and recording the fewest points since their days in Quebec during the 1979–80 season.<ref name="wseason">{{cite web |title=The 2008–09 Avalanche season |url=http://assets.sbnation.com/assets/223770/Colorado_Section2.pdf |publisher=SB Nation |access-date=November 15, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181116043416/http://assets.sbnation.com/assets/223770/Colorado_Section2.pdf |archive-date=November 16, 2018 |url-status=live}}</ref> The Avalanche missed the postseason for the second time in three seasons. It would be the first time in Avalanche history the team's top scorer would score less than 70 points on the season, as Milan Hejduk and Ryan Smyth would register only 59 points each.<ref name="wseason" /><ref>{{cite web |title=2008–09 Colorado Avalanche Roster and Statistics |url=https://www.hockey-reference.com/teams/COL/2009.html |website=Hockey-Reference.com |access-date=November 15, 2018}}</ref> On April 13, 2009, just one day after the end of the season, the Avalanche relieved Francois Giguere of his general manager duties.<ref>{{cite magazine |title=Avalanche fire GM Giguere |url=https://www.si.com/nhl/2009/04/13/avalanche-gmfiring |magazine=Sports Illustrated |access-date=November 15, 2018}}</ref> Colorado would go on to receive the highest draft pick in Avalanche history, third overall.<ref name="2009 Draft">{{cite web|title=Avs Select Seven Players at 2009 Draft|url=https://www.nhl.com/avalanche/news/avs-select-seven-players-at-2009-draft/c-432118|publisher=National Hockey League|access-date=March 24, 2018|date=June 27, 2009}}</ref> That pick turned out to be [[Brampton Battalion]] star [[Matt Duchene]].<ref name="2009 Draft" />

[[File:Colorado Avalanche Playoffs!.jpg|thumb|left|Members of the Avalanche celebrate a win against the [[Vancouver Canucks]], clinching the eighth and final Western Conference seed for the [[2010 Stanley Cup playoffs]].]]
In the 2009 off-season, the Avalanche named [[Greg Sherman]] the new general manager and [[Joe Sacco (ice hockey)|Joe Sacco]] the new head coach.<ref>{{Cite news|title=Greg Sherman Named Avalanche GM |url=http://avalanche.nhl.com/team/app/?service=page&page=NewsPage&articleid=424793 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090606123520/http://avalanche.nhl.com/team/app/?service=page&page=NewsPage&articleid=424793 |archive-date=June 6, 2009}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.denverpost.com/ci_12519305|title=Avs hire Sacco as head coach | work =The Denver Post | date =June 4, 2009 | access-date =June 4, 2009 | first=Adrian | last=Dater}}</ref> The following month, top scorer Ryan Smyth was traded to the Los Angeles Kings and Joe Sakic, the only team captain the Avalanche had ever known, retired after 21 seasons in the NHL.<ref>{{cite web |title=Sakic-less Avalanche start to rebuild – NHL.com – News |url=http://www.nhl.com/ice/m_news.htm?id=498700 |website=www.nhl.com |access-date=December 24, 2018}}</ref> The Avalanche named Adam Foote as his replacement.<ref>{{cite web |last1=September 11 |first1=CBC Sports · |title=Foote replaces Sakic as Avalanche captain|url=https://www.cbc.ca/sports/hockey/foote-replaces-sakic-as-avalanche-captain-1.815189 |website=CBC |access-date=December 24, 2018}}</ref> Sakic's jersey retirement ceremony took place on October 1, 2009, before the season opener at home against the San Jose Sharks where the Avalanche won 5–2.<ref>{{cite web |title=Sharks vs. Avalanche – Game Recap – October 1, 2009 |url=http://www.espn.com/nhl/recap/_/gameId/291001017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181224121934/http://www.espn.com/nhl/recap/_/gameId/291001017 |url-status=dead |archive-date=December 24, 2018 |website=ESPN |access-date=December 24, 2018}}</ref> The Avalanche started the season off strong until the [[Ice hockey at the 2010 Winter Olympics – Men's tournament|2010 Winter Olympics]] break in Vancouver. Three Avalanche team members played in the Winter Olympics – Paul Stastny for the United States, Ruslan Salei for [[Belarus men's national ice hockey team|Belarus]] and [[Peter Budaj]] for [[Slovakia men's national ice hockey team|Slovakia]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://avalanche.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=511980|title=Stastny named to US Olympic Team | publisher =National Hockey League | date =January 1, 2010 | access-date =April 7, 2010}}</ref> Following the Winter Olympics, the Avalanche struggled but eventually clinched a playoff spot with 95 points on the season, a 26-point improvement from the previous year's effort, and good enough for eighth place in the Western Conference.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://sports.espn.go.com/nhl/recap?gameId=300406022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100411225234/http://sports.espn.go.com/nhl/recap?gameId=300406022|url-status=dead|archive-date=April 11, 2010|title=Avalanche vs. Canucks Recap | publisher =ESPN | date =April 6, 2010 | access-date =April 7, 2010}}</ref> The Avalanche fell in the conference quarterfinals to the top-seeded [[San Jose Sharks]] in six games.<ref>{{cite web |title=2010 NHL Playoffs – Conference Quarterfinals – Sharks vs. Avalanche – ESPN |url=http://www.espn.com/nhl/playoffs/2010/matchup/_/teams/sharks-avalanche |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181224121927/http://www.espn.com/nhl/playoffs/2010/matchup/_/teams/sharks-avalanche |url-status=dead |archive-date=December 24, 2018 |website=ESPN.com |access-date=December 24, 2018}}</ref>

Stan Kroenke purchased full ownership in the NFL's [[History of the St. Louis Rams|St. Louis Rams]] in 2010. Since the NFL does not allow its owners to hold majority control of major-league teams in other NFL cities, Kroenke turned over day-to-day control of the Nuggets and Avalanche to his son, Josh, toward the end of 2010. Kroenke had to sell his controlling interest in both teams by 2014.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.espn.com/nfl/news/story?id=5496516|title=Stan Kroenke is new Rams owner|date=August 25, 2010|publisher=[[ESPN]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Wertheim |first1=L. Jon |title=THE MOST POWERFUL MAN IN SPORTS ... YOU HAD NO IDEA, DID YOU? STAN KROENKE |url=https://www.si.com/vault/2012/11/19/106255876/the-most-powerful-man-in-sports--you-had-no-idea-did-you-stan-kroenke |website=Vault |access-date=December 24, 2018}}</ref>

In 2010, the Avalanche made it to the playoffs but lost in the conference quarterfinals 4–2 against San Jose.<ref>{{cite web |title=2009–10 Colorado Avalanche Roster and Statistics |url=https://www.hockey-reference.com/teams/COL/2010.html |website=Hockey-Reference.com |access-date=December 24, 2018}}</ref> Joe Sacco finished third in [[Jack Adams Trophy]] voting that season.