Colorado Avalanche Ink Stewart to Two-Year Deal, Turn Attention to Mueller

The Avalanche hope that Chris Stewart can reach or even surpass his breakthrough season heading into 2010-2011

It is a huge night for Colorado Avalanche fans as they have announced the signing of 2009-2010 leading goal scorer and restricted free agent Chris Stewart to a two-year contract worth $6 million.

The deal comes only weeks before the start of training camp and many fans were beginning to worry about whether the 22-year-old would be under contract in time for camp. However, the Avalanche are pleased to be bringing the bulky power forward back into the fold.

During what was a break out season last year Stewart posted 29 goals and 34 assists playing most of his minutes along side superstar centre Paul Stastny. Stewart was one of many Lake Erie graduates that played a large part in a quite surprising playoff birth for the avalanche after finishing 15th in the Western Conference in the previous season.

With Stewart now signed much of the attention will turned to RFA right winger Peter Mueller and whether or not he will resign with the Avalanche. Mueller is still recovering from post concussion syndrom after a collision that took place at the end of the regular season on the end of a Rob Blake head shot. The Avalanche hope that Mueller will recover in time for training camp as well.