With the Avalanche appearing seven times. For those in Colorado, you will most likely give a collective shrug. But for those of us who may not be in state, it is an excellent setup. Also, there are no Vancouver (Damn Dirty) Canucks games, which makes me do a dance of happiness (Canadians don’t need OLN, as they have the CBC). Here are the Avs dates.

Oct 4th Dallas at Colorado (Opening Night!!!)
Nov 20th Colorado at Dallas
Jan 9th Detroit at Colorado
Jan 15th Colorado at San Jose
Jan 30th Nashville at Colorado
Feb 13th Anaheim at Colorado
Mar 6th Colorado at Boston

What will OLN bring to next season. With as much as they improved this past season, I’m hoping for big things. That is, if the announcers can stay on topic.

NBC also has it’s schedule out , and it has three Avs games, and no Van-who?-ver. Here they are:

Jan 28th Colorado at Detroit
Feb 11th Colorado at Dallas
Mar 4th Colorado at Detroit

Three nationally televised games between Detroit and Colorado. See, somebody tell Bettman that rivalries are not something you can coax. Just because we play Minnesota eight times doesn’t mean we can work up the same bile for them as for the Wings. Of course, some of that has been muted of late, but don’t tell OLN or NBC that, or they might show more Panthers vs. Chicago games. Slow news day indeed.

The CBC and TSN have both released their schedules today. The Canadian viewing public gets the sheer pleasure of watching the Avs 5 times on TSN, and 7 times on the CBC. How lucky are they?

Also, today is the 18 year anniversary of the Gretzky trade from Edmonton to L.A. For some reading about it, go to Eyes On The Prize, with individual links to part 1, part 2, and part 3. Read it, it’s worth it. At minimum, read part one. Part 3 gets pretty deep.