panoo

July 17, 2007
hockeyfights.com

DENVER – The Colorado Avalanche Hockey Club announced today the signings of forward Mark Rycroft and free agent defensemen Jeff Jillson and Dale Purinton to one-year contracts.

“Mark is a hard-working player who provides energy to our roster,” said Avalanche Executive Vice President and General Manager Francois Giguere.

Rycroft, 27, heads into his fifth NHL season. He appeared in 66 games last season and recorded 12 points (6g/6a), exceeding his point total from the previous year in St. Louis (10 pts.). He ranked second among Colorado forwards in hits (80).

Jillson, 26, was a first-round draft choice of the San Jose Sharks (14th overall) in the 1999 NHL Entry Draft. The 6’3”, 220-pound native of North Smithfield, Rhode Island is a veteran of 140 NHL contests with San Jose, Boston and Buffalo. As a three-year letterman at the University of Michigan from 1998-2001, Jillson earned second-team All-American honors in 2001 and first-team All-CCHA honors in 2000 and 2001. He led all CCHA defensemen in points during his 2000-01 collegiate campaign. In his rookie NHL season with San Jose in 2001-02, he led NHL rookies with 12 power-play assists and ranked second with 15 power-play points.

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