BSN Exclusive: Avalanche signs last unsigned player

Entering Tuesday, only one player who is expected to play for the Avalanche this coming season remained without a contract – and an arbitration case on the matter was pending. That player, Patrik Nemeth, will avoid the potentially messy, bruised-feelings arbitration scenario by signing a new contract with the Avs.

A formal announcement of a deal between Nemeth and the Avalanche is expected at some point Wednesday or possibly later in the week, BSN Denver has learned. Exact terms of the contract have yet to be finalized, but Nemeth and the Avs have a tentative agreement on a new deal, sources tell BSN Denver. If players with comparable numbers are factored into the equation, at his age, Nemeth could have possibly gotten as much as $3 million per season on the new deal if he had gone to arbitration, but it is believed the Avs will get him at a lesser price.

Nemeth, a 6-3, 220-pound defenseman who led the Avs in plus-minus last season (plus-27), made $945,000 on the final year of his previous contract. With his signature on a new contract, the Avalanche will enter training camp next month with no unsigned restricted free agents who had been previously tendered qualifying offers.

While Nemeth endured some criticism for his decision-making with the puck, the fact is his numbers look good on a stat sheet. A plus-27 is hard to ignore for any general manager, and in the end, Colorado G.M. Joe Sakic thought it wise to re-up with the Swede D-man.

Nemeth was slated to have an arbitration hearing on Saturday with the Avs in Toronto, but that is moot now.