Avs are up against the clock when it comes to signing Bernier

Officially, NHL teams cannot discuss contract terms with a prospective free-agent player or their agent until July 1st, when the market officially opens for business. But it’s kind of like trying to police jaywalking in New York City, or flight attendants telling passengers to put their cell phones in airplane mode during takeoff and landing.

The real deadline as to whether Jonathan Bernier will stay with the Avalanche probably more likely is this coming Sunday.

If Bernier isn’t signed to a new contract by Sunday, the 24th, any team in the league can call his agent and gauge interest in striking a deal. It’s informally called the “Interview” process, a week-long period in which unrestricted free agent players – unlike the old days when they had to wait until midnight July 1 – can receive formal inquiries from other teams.

In the case of Bernier, every day that gets closer to Sunday without a new contract lessens the likelihood he’ll return to the Avs.

While nobody I’ve talked to would go on the record for this story, I’ll give my reporter’s take on where things stand: unless the Avs suddenly come up with a nice offer for Bernier by Sunday – something that hadn’t happened as of Tuesday night – he’s going to be an ex-Av by July 1.

The two sides have had discussions, which was seen as a positive. But the Avs have yet to make a genuine offer, I’m told. Neither Bernier’s agent, Pat Brisson nor anyone from Avs management would comment on the situation.

This could all point to something larger going on. If the Avs want to save a few dollars in resisting a fairly big-money deal for a guy who was technically only their backup goalie this past season, maybe they’re gearing up for a boffo offer on a truly big-ticket item. A monster bid on a John Carlson, or a John Tavares, or maybe something very nice to a James Van Riemsdyk or a James Neal or a Paul Stastny?

According to the incomparably invaluable website Cap Friendly, the Avs have nearly $23 million in available cap space, with July 1 now only 11 days away. According to the site, only four other teams – the New York Rangers, Vegas Golden Knights, Carolina Hurricanes and New York Islanders – have more cap space than Colorado.

If Bernier were to leave, the Avs still have Semyon Varlamov set to return for the final year of his deal, and there are a handful of veteran goalies that should be available July 1 that, on paper anyway, wouldn’t look so bad as a new backup. Kari Lehtonen or Jaroslav Halak, anyone?

Of course, signing big-ticket free agents sort of flies in the face of what Joe Sakic has said his “plan” for the team has been – to keep building from within, staying young, not trying to win it all in one year. But when a John Tavares or John Carlson – or, via trade, say, an Erik Karlsson – may be available, sometimes plans can be modified.

Just as any team can phone Brisson on Sunday asking if Bernier might have an interest in signing with them, so too would the Avs be free in phoning Brisson to ask if, you know, John Tavares might consider calling Denver a new home city.

Buckle up kids, it could start to get real interesting around here real soon.