With nearly $44 million guaranteed to 13 players for next season, and an NHL salary cap that probably won't change much from its current $56.7 million, the Avalanche might not have much chance to restructure its 2009-10 roster.

"It's going to be a challenge," Avalanche general manager Francois Giguere said. "Two years from now, half of those dollars will disappear. But we're here to find solutions and that's what we're going to do."

Not included in the 13 players whose averaged cap number is $43.775 million are a goalie and captain Joe Sakic. Five of the 13 — Ryan Smyth, Scott Hannan, Adam Foote, Paul Stastny and Milan Hejduk — have no-trade provisions in their contracts.

The Avs currently have four players — Smyth, Stastny, Hannan and John-Michael Liles — signed beyond next season, and their cap hit for 2010-11 is $21.55 million.

:kave: