In Denver, Mark Kiszla writes the Avalanche this season are an "abomination." Kiszla: "The low point in the team's history? You're looking at it." Avalanche President & Governor Josh Kroenke "tried to recreate the Avalanche's glory years by bringing back two superstars" in Exec VP/Hockey Operations & GM Joe Sakic and former coach Patrick Roy. But Roy has already "walked off the job" and at the end of this season, Sakic "needs to resign and move on, so Colorado can again move forward" (DENVER POST, 12/23).
COOLER THAN COOL: In San Jose, Mark Purdy writes under the header, "Sharks Might Be Bay Area's Coolest Sports Story Right Now -- If Anyone's Paying Attention." In a season when the club was "supposed to suffer a letdown from losing the Stanley Cup Final and have their aging roster catch up with them, the Sharks have done just the opposite." Purdy: "San Jose's favorite hockey team is filling all the seats again at SAP Center. On merit" (SAN JOSE MERCURY NEWS, 12/23).
NOT SO FAST: USL club OKC Energy FC co-Owner Bob Funk Jr. said that the team's ownership group will "not apply for an MLS expansion franchise in Oklahoma City before the league's upcoming Jan. 31 application deadline." But in Oklahoma City, James Poling notes Funk and co-Owner Tim McLaughlin "remain interested in landing a franchise." Funk: "It would be disingenuous on our part to apply for this expansion deadline because there would be too many unknowns. ... Everyone would have to be behind it and ready to make that push. The long-term goal is to get to MLS. It's just not to get to it within this tranche of teams" (OKLAHOMAN, 12/23).
