Making a clean first pass up ice to begin the exit from the defensive zone is commonly taken for granted in hockey. But it’s a crucial need for any successful team.

If exits aren’t continually clean, the systems break down. Turnovers lead to unfavorable counter-attacks and neutral-zone strategy is erased. Offensive entries are drastically diminished.

Too much time on defense leads to too many shots against and reduces offensive opportunities. Puck-moving defensemen don’t necessarily translate to offensive threats; they are generally graded on making the first pass out of the zone.

The Avalanche needs to improve its basic system of moving the puck up ice and setting up the attack.

Last summer, trading for defenseman Brad Stuart, 35, and signing free agent Zach Redmond wasn’t enough. The Avalanche needs to surround marquee defensemen Erik Johnson and Tyson Barrie with more advanced playing partners logging big minutes.

That’s not to say Stuart, Redmond, Nate Guenin and Nick Holden don’t belong on the team. They are simply better equipped to play third-pair roles or add depth.

Coach Patrick Roy has often said he is going to “live or die” with his young and talented forward corps — primarily Matt Duchene, Ryan O’Reilly, Gabe Landeskog and Nathan MacKinnon — but admitted late this past season that he’d like to improve the blue line.

Hence, the Avs — who have six of eight returning defensemen under contract for next season — are not expected to re-sign unrestricted free-agent defensemen Jan Hejda and Ryan Wilson. Colorado probably will use much of its $11 million in salary cap space to recruit at least one free-agent defenseman, and probably two.

Drafted-and-signed prospects Chris Bigras and Mason Geertsen, both 20, probably won’t be ready next season and 2011 first-round draft pick Duncan Siemens, 21, might be the bust of his class. Former second-round draftee Stefan Elliott, 24, has grown out of favor with the Avalanche and is a restricted free agent.

The best defensive prospect under contract might be Maxim Noreau, 28, who led the Avalanche’s American Hockey League affiliate in scoring before suffering a season-ending shoulder injury.

Colorado has the No. 10 pick in the June 26 first round of the NHL draft in Sunrise, Fla.

The No. 2- and No. 3-ranked defensemen — Russia’s Ivan Provorov and the University of Michigan’s Zach Werenski — could be available. But those two 18-year-olds probably need a year or more of development before making their marks in the NHL.

The Avalanche is excited about Bigras and Geertsen, and others including 2014 third-round draft pick Kyle Wood, 19. They are deemed ahead of the development curve of Provorov and Werenski.

Free agency or a trade probably is how the Avalanche will fill a desperate need, and the best available players could be Andrej Sekera (unrestricted free agent) and Jake Gardiner (under contract with the Toronto Maple Leafs).

Fab five

Denver Post hockey reporter Mike Chambers analyzes five NHL defensemen who could immediately help the Avs:

1. Andrej Sekera. E The smooth Slovakian, 27, is an unrestricted free agent who finished this season with Los Angeles after a trade-deadline acquisition from Carolina. Had a $2.75 million cap hit; will get a hefty raise.

2. Jake Gardiner. Would require a trade. He’s under contract with Toronto through 2018-19 at $4.05 million annually. The Avs covet the 24-year-old former first-round Anaheim draft pick, who could use some new scenery.

3. Mike Green. Leads available unrestricted free-agent defensemen with previous pay ($6.25 million). Is a coveted commodity as a excellent two-way player younger than 30; he’s 29. What team will overpay to sign him?

4. Matt Irwin. Undrafted unrestricted free agent from San Jose. He’s only 27, and a great skater with good size and offensive ability. Made $1.1 million this season and will at least double that in free agency.

5. Cody Franson. F Former Maple Leaf finished this season with Nashville. He’s 6-foot-5 and just 27. Had a $3.3 million cap hit this season.