Let Stastny walk as a free agent, then go shopping with the $6.6 million saved by not signing him. See how far that cash, plus the ample room Colorado has under the salary cap, can go in luring a defenseman such as Pittsburgh's Matt Niskanen and a wing sniper the ilk of Minnesota's Matt Moulson.

Stastny can find fortune and happiness outside Colorado.

Even without Stastny, life can be good for the Avs.

Let's get on with it.

Goodbye, Paulie. Big-time thanks for the memories. All the best.

-Mark Kiszla of the Denver Post where you can read more on Paul Stastny.