The Colorado Avalanche must be happy with the construction of last season's team that just missed the postseason, because they are working hard to keep the entire group together.
On the same day that winger David Jones signed a four year contract valued at $16 million, the Avalanche have re-signed impending unrestricted free agent defenseman Matt Hunwick to a two year contract valued at $3.2 million, according to Adrian Dater of the Denver Post..
Hunwick, 27, was acquired in December 2010 via trade with the Boston Bruins in exchange for defensive prospect Colby Cohen. After a miserable 2010-2011 season, Hunwick was a healthy scratch for much of the first half of the 2011-2012 season. But when injuries tested the defensive depth, Hunwick was given consistent starts and was a key player in the stretch run that fell just short of the postseason. He finished the season with six points and a -3 rating while averaging 18 minutes of ice time per game for the much-improved Avalanche defensive unit.
With this signing, center Jay McClement and defenseman Shane O`Brien remain the only unrestricted free agents from last year's roster.
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