Adrian Dater: Martin Biron or Ty Conklin, the Next Avalanche Starter

The Denver Post's Colorado Avalanche beat writer Adrian Dater was interviewed on the June 22nd, 2009 edition of NHL Live! with E.J. Hradek and Deb Placey and he stated that he believes that either Martin Biron or Ty Conklin will become the next starter for the Avalanche.

Martin Biron was originally acquired by the Philadelphia Flyers for a second round pick in 2007 and has been the team's starter since. He was inconsistent throughout his Flyer career and the team has decided to move on by signing free agent goalie Ray Emery.

Subsequently, Biron is not expected to be retained and will hit the open market on July 1st.

Ty Conklin's NHL career looked all but over in the 2006 Stanley Cup Finals when he coughed up the puck behind the net to Carolina Hurricanes' captain Rod Brind'Amour with 31.1 seconds left, allowing him to score the game winning goal into an empty net.

Conklin returned to the NHL in the 2007-08 season following injuries to Marc-Andre Fleury and Dany Sabourin in Pittsburgh. He would hold the starting position until Fleury's return from injury.

Conklin then spent this past season sharing time with Chris Osgood in Detroit.

Of note, Conklin has played in both Winter Classics and has been in the Stanley Cup Finals three times, all losses.

Comments: Another option could be Nikolai Khabibulin. The Avalanche need goaltending badly and cannot wait until next summer when the likes of Roberto Luongo, Marty Turco, and Evgeni Nabokov could hit the market.