Mark Barberio sent to Eagles; Calle Rosen recalled

OTTAWA – A bit of a surprise this morning, as the Avalanche made a personnel move: Mark Barberio, who has not played a game since Dec. 18 despite being healthy, was sent to the Colorado Eagles of the AHL and Calle Rosen was recalled.

The Avs are calling the demotion of Barberio a “conditioning stint”, and that’s fair in all likelihood. No player, though, likes to get sent to the minors. You stay in minor-league hotels, travel in minor-league ways (i.e. commercial flights) and don’t get to play against the very best.

Barberio has been nothing but professional in his relegation as the seventh D-man, always practicing hard, always upbeat in the dressing room. But let’s face it: this is almost certainly his final season with the Avs, and we’ll have to see whether he comes back to the Avs’ roster or not this season.

At least, with the Eagles, he will be playing. Rosen has played eight games with the Avs this season, garnering two assists.

The Avs held a brief practice at the University of Ottawa today. Nothing special to report. Avs vs. Senators tomorrow night. Not sure of the goalie, but I wouldn’t assume Pavel Francouz will get the start, just because Grubauer has had the last few. Almost certainly, though, Francouz will get a start over the weekend, as part of back-to-back games in Columbus and Minnesota.