After a dismal 2008/09 record of 32-45-5 the Avalanche franchise fired Head Coach Tony Granato and his entire coaching staff. The franchise then turned and fired the General Manager Francois Giguere. Gigure was replace with Greg Sherman and the head coaching position was filled by Joe Sacco. In early July, Joe Sakic retired after 20 NHL season. The Avalanche retired his jersey on October 1, 2009. The team made some offseason acquisitions to include goalie Craig Anderson and Left Wing enforcer David Koci. Left Wing Ryan Smyth was traded to the LA Kings for Tom Preissing and Kyle Quincey. As of this writing, the Avs are 30-18-6 and in second place in the Northwest Division.

After their first disappointing season in the short history in Denver, the fans that line up to get Colorado Avalanche tickets hope that the 2005-2006 season will return the team to its former place among the National Hockey League's elite. Despite losing Peter Forsberg and Adam Foote to the newly restructured salary cap, head coach Joel Quenneville appears ready to mold the franchise back into the Stanley Cup Champions they once were at the beginning of the millennium. With a little luck, Quenneville can put Avalanche tickets back on top.

After struggling through financial difficulties as the Quebec Nordiques, the franchise was sold to new ownership in Denver in 1995 where the team enjoyed immediate success. With the trade for goalie Patrick Roy in the team's first year in the Rocky Mountains, the Avalanche hockey team was able to dominate the NHL league's competition. Under head coach Marc Crawford's leadership, the team swept the Florida Panthers in the Stanley Cup finals after a thrilling third overtime victory in the fourth game. Colorado Avalanche hockey tickets became the prime form of entertainment in Denver. While the team was absent from the national hockey league's championship for the next five years, fans in Colorado continued to support one of the NHL's most consistent teams as the Avalanche appeared in the playoffs year after year.

However, the team's appearance in the playoffs was not enough for the front office, and Bob Hartley replaced Crawford after the team failed to make a playoff run during the following two seasons. Defenseman Ray Borque, later elected into the Hall of Fame, played with the Avalanche during the 2000-2001 season when the team won the President Trophy with the league's best record. Borque proved to be the necessary addition for the team's return to the Stanley Cup. While the victory was not as defining as the team's first championship, fans in Colorado witnessed a battle between the home team and the New Jersey Devils. Borque won his first and only championship before retiring, and the team appeared to be back to its winning ways. The team's two titles, won in fewer than ten years, solidified fans of Denver's Colorado Avalanche hockey as one of the premier cities for hockey in North America.

While Avalanche tickets failed to deliver a division championship in 2003-2004, a first in Avalanche team history, veteran captain Joe Sakic will work to help the team return to greatness. The 2005-2006 season has brought new players Ovechkin and Svatos, leading the NHL rookies with each scoring 25 goals. Colorado fans are excited and just wait for one of the rookies to score, block, or steal the puck. Fans at the Pepsi Center hope that Patrice Brisebois' first year in the NHL can provide the team with another defensive boost. While Roy no longer guards the goal, many fans expect Peter Budaj to evolve into an equally powerful asset for the franchise as the team works to make another postseason appearance in 2006. Between Budaj and Sakic, Avalanche tickets, and a trip to the Pepsi Center are one of the best bets in hockey.