Swiss goalie Reto Berra met his new Avalanche teammates Tuesday, nearly a week after he was acquired from Calgary for a second-round draft pick. And his arrival as the No. 3 goalie began to make more sense.

Berra, who took shots in an optional practice along with No. 2 goalie Jean-Sebastien Giguere, had visa and immigration problems that prevented him from entering the United States until Monday night.

The Avs traded for Berra and will keep him on the big-league roster as the No. 3 goalie. Giguere, who will turn 37 in May, and the 27-year-old Berra both can be unrestricted free agents July 1.

Giguere said he is leaning toward retirement after this season. The Avs said they are confident Berra will sign a multi-year extension to be Semyon Varlamov’s backup for next season and beyond.

“We’re presently working on signing him,” Roy said, adding that he and vice president Joe Sakic would not have given up a second-round draft pick if they expected Berra would test free agency.

A healthy Giguere will serve as Varlamov’s backup the rest of the season, Roy said, and Berra will get primary attention from goaltending specialist Francois Allair, who coached Roy and Giguere to become Stanley Cup and Conn Smythe Trophy-winning goalies and has helped Varlamov produce his best NHL season.

As a tribute to Giguere, Roy has penciled in the Montreal native to start in next Tuesday’s game at the Canadiens.

Giguere is fine with the Avalanche looking ahead without him, because he is looking in the same direction.

“Not 100 percent sure, but definitely leaning that way,” he said of retirement.”You have to be honest with yourself, and (the end of the season) might be the time. But I don’t want to talk about that right now. It’s not the time or place.”

Footnotes. Right winger P.A. Parenteau has a sprain to his right medial collateral ligament he suffered Monday night against Winnepeg and will be out 4-6 weeks. Parenteau previously missed time with a sprain to his left knee.

Center Paul Stastny, who missed Monday’s game with a back injury, did not practice Tuesday and will not play Wednesday against the Chicago Blackhawks.

Parenteau and Stastny will be replaced by Brad Malone and Paul Carey, who were recalled from Lake Erie of the American Hockey League late Monday night. Carey, 25, a four-year player at Boston College, will be making his NHL debut. Malone, 24, will center the fourth line with Carey and enforcer Patrick Bordeleau.

… Varlamov will start against the Blackhawks.

Mike Chambers: mchambers@denverpost.com or twitter.com/mchambers