If the offseason for the Avalanche starts Sunday, which is likely to be the case, one of the questions from Avs fans will be: Which players will be brought back for next season?

David Jones doesn’t seem to have any idea whether he will return next season in an Avalanche uniform. Eligible to become an unrestricted free agent July 1, Jones was hoping he would be signed to a contract extension by now. But it’s rare for the Avs to do that during the season.

“It’s unfortunate they don’t do any of their signings during a season,” Jones said Tuesday, the Avs’ fourth consecutive day without a game. “Which is fine, and just something you have to adjust to. But you can’t really think about that too much right now. We still have games to play and have a hope we can make the playoffs.”

Jones, 27, needs one goal to have at least 20 for the second consecutive season.

He made $2.5 million this season. Given his scoring output, it wouldn’t be unrealistic to think he could get a new deal that averages $3 million to $4 million per year.

Whether the Avs want to go that high remains to be seen.

They didn’t engage in extension talks this season and have a sketchy history of re-signing their players once they hit the open market.

“It’s a great group of guys in here, and I’ve been here my whole career,” Jones said. “My family’s happy here, but we’ll see what happens.”

Jones recently has been playing at right wing on a line with Paul Stastny and Jamie McGinn, who didn’t practice Tuesday because of a lingering back ailment.

“I think our line has been great since we got the opportunity to play together,” Jones said. “You kind of wonder what it would have been like if it had happened sooner.”

Center stage. Another player the Avs have to worry about losing for nothing this summer is center Jay McClement, who can become an unrestricted free agent.

McClement has had a good season, with 10 goals and strong performances on the defensive end.

The Avs’ penalty- killing unit has improved from 29th in the NHL to 12th this season with McClement as a lead forward.

McClement said he would like to return, but “it’s out of my hands.”



Adrian Dater, The Denver Post