from Mike Chambers of the Denver Post,

In an exclusive interview Thursday, Avalanche general manager Joe Sakic swept away rumors that young defenseman Tyson Barrie will be traded and discussed a handful of other issues including Nathan MacKinnon’s pending contract extension and next week’s NHL draft in Buffalo....

“I’d like to do a long-term deal with Tyson. If that doesn’t work out, it’s expected he’ll go to arbitration,” Sakic said. “Either way, he’ll be here.”

Barrie was Colorado’s fifth-leading scorer last season with 49 points (13 goals) in 78 games. Among all NHL defensemen, he was 13th in scoring.

MacKinnon, 20, is also a restricted free agent, but coming off his three-year, entry-level contract. Sakic said the No. 1 selection in the 2013 draft will be signed by training camp in September but isn’t sure if it will be a long-term deal with unrestricted free agency at the end of it or a bridge deal taking him to another RFA situation.

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