On the heels of the NHL draft and the six-player trade involving Ryan O'Reilly and the Buffalo Sabres, the Avalanche is preparing for the free-agent frenzy Wednesday.
Signing a veteran puck-moving defenseman — or two — is the goal as Colorado hopes to improve its blue line without sacrificing future contract extensions for Erik Johnson, Tyson Barrie and Nathan MacKinnon.
Johnson, the Avs' top defenseman, could be an unrestricted free agent next summer. Defenseman Barrie and forward Mac-
Kinnon are pending restricted free agents after next season. The Avs can afford to wait to extend Barrie and MacKinnon, but extending Johnson before next summer will be a priority.