Sure, it could be interpreted as spin: head of state — in the Avalanche’s case, Josh Kroenke — says the future for his organization is bright. Isn’t that what he’s supposed to say? But there was unmistakable enthusiasm in the voice of the 31-year-old Avs governor in a Friday phone interview about the state of the franchise.

“We’re excited where we’re headed. I’m not afraid to say that. We’ve got a good young team,” Kroenke said. “I think our identity right now is speed, energy and youth. When they learn to mature, we’ll reap the benefits.”

Some Avs fans have been frustrated at finishing out of the playoffs three of the past four years while the payroll has been among the lower ranks of NHL teams. Kroenke’s message to fans: We hear you, we understand. But it’s not that simple.

“If I was a fan, that’s what I’d be saying too, to throw a bunch of money at something too,” he said. “When you’re sitting at the other side of the table, you want to do right by your fans, but you also want to protect your team a little bit, especially in a hard cap system. You want to make sure you don’t get yourself in a position where it’s going to be really hard to get out of and inhibit yourself from going forward.

“With a young roster like this, we decided to let these guys develop and then at some point maybe we might try to surround them with other guys if we can’t fill those voids through the draft while our other guys are developing. But I think we have a really good pipeline right now.”

Kroenke joined the organization started by his father, Stan, as vice president of team development with the Nuggets in 2007 and assumed governorship of the Avs when his father bought the St. Louis Rams in 2010. He indicated potential labor issues with an expiring NHL collective bargaining agreement present challenges with regard to long-term contracts.

“There’s some stuff that’s going to go on at the league level this offseason. I’m just waiting for a normal season on both teams,” Kroenke said, laughing. “I had the Melo situation, then the (NBA) lockout and now we’re going to go ahead and do the NHL stuff and I’m like, ‘When am I going to get just a normal season when I can enjoy our teams?’ “

Some were surprised when the Avs gave coach Joe Sacco a two-year contract extension this month, with his team missing the playoffs for a second season in a row. But Kroenke saw a young team that improved by 20 points in the standings (88-68) and still was in playoff contention entering the 81st game of the season.

“I think it’s a tribute to the coaching staff that had a team with a 19-year-old, a 21- and 22-year-old that was able to go out and do some damage. That’s why we elected to bring back Joe,” he said. “It’s not easy with a young team, and ever since the Nene trade, I’m going through the same thing on the Nuggets’ side now. The up-and-down swings are really tough, and they’re learning on the fly.”

Kroenke admits to being more conversant in the sport of basketball than hockey. He was a highly recruited high school basketball player who played at the University of Missouri. But, after a few years of hanging around people who were great teachers of the game — such as Pierre Lacroix and Joe Sakic — he says he’s getting closer to being a genuine “hockey guy.”

“I understand strategy now. I understand what we’re trying to do on the ice. It’s a simple thing, but for someone who wasn’t around hockey growing up in central Missouri, just figuring out how the line changes happened was impossible for me in the beginning,” Kroenke said. “I do go to games, but when I do I’ll usually come in with a couple of friends, wear a ball cap, get under the radar and sit down close. It’s just a different environment down there on the boards. I really enjoy the game.”

Adrian Dater: 303-954-1360 or adater@denverpost.com