What kind of a splash will the Avalanche make Friday, the start of the NHL free-agency period? Probably the equivalent of a feather falling onto the surface of a lake.

While the Avs will do some window shopping and could be persuaded to come into the store regarding a couple of free agents, the team is likely to be quiet for a few reasons.

The Avs have 22 players under contract for this coming season, plus another who will be soon in No. 1 draft pick Nathan MacKinnon. When MacKinnon signs, the Avs will be at the maximum 23 players a team can have on a roster.

The Avs might soon lose defensemen Matt Hunwick and Greg Zanon, however, as both were placed on waivers Tuesday.

If one or both are picked up by another team, the Avs will have openings on defense and could make a pitch for someone on the open market.

Avalanche executive vice president of hockey operations Joe Sakic and coach Patrick Roy, however, indicated that Friday figures to be an uneventful day around the Pepsi Center.

“You can only have 23 guys signed, but we’ll see (if) and where we can improve the club,” Sakic said.

In a conference call with season-ticket holders Tuesday, Sakic and Roy said the team is wary of overpaying on a fairly weak free-agent crop this year, especially on defense.

Of the players who figure to be available, Boston’s Andrew Ference might be the most attractive, but the Avs likely would have numerous competitors for his services and probably wouldn’t want to pay anything north of $3 million a year.

The Avs need to be careful on the budget, despite having around $9 million of cap room, assuming Mac- Kinnon gets a maximum rookie contract averaging about $3 million per year. The team has lots of young players entering the final years of their deals.

Paying huge money on a free agent now could hamper fitting players such as Matt Duchene, Gabe Landeskog and Ryan O’Reilly under next year’s cap.

In the conference call Tuesday, Sakic and Roy indicated a belief that the much-criticized Avs defensive corps will be better, even if no free agents are signed. Roy said the loss of Ryan Wilson for much of last season hurt and that his return will help greatly.

Sakic said the team is high on youngster Tyson Barrie now that he has more experience, and added veteran Cory Sarich, obtained last week from the Calgary Flames, will be a nice addition.

If Hunwick and/or Zanon leaves, other free-agent defensemen who might draw interest from the Avs include Toni Lydman, Douglas Murray, Rob Scuderi, Michal Rozsival, Jordan Leopold, Marc-Andre Bergeron and Ian White.

The Avs have two players from last season who likely will hit the open market: Chuck Kobasew and longtime right wing and former captain Milan Hejduk.

Kobasew will not be retained by the Avs, but it remains unclear what will happen with Hejduk. Sakic said Hejduk is pondering whether he wants to play this season.

With Roy already having spelled out who will play where on his four lines — and Hejduk not included — it seems unlikely the Avs would sign him to another contract.

Despite some big names available as forwards on the open market — Jarome Iginla, Daniel Briere, Mike Ribeiro — the Avs seem happy with their forward group and unlikely to make bids.

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