Crawford Plans To Stay In Denver With Avalanche

Colorado Avalanche coach Marc Crawford says he isn’t leaving anytime soon to return to Canada and a chance to coach the team he rooted for as a child - the Toronto Maple Leafs.

The Avalanche completed a four-game sweep of the Florida Panthers in Miami on Monday to win the NHL title. Crawford said he is confident the Avalanche can keep winning, and he wants to stay with the club.

But he hasn’t settled his contract, which has one year remaining and pays him $250,000.

Crawford said no timetable has been set for negotiations to resume between his agent and Avalanche general manager Pierre Lacroix. But contract talks likely will resume next week, he said.

Crawford has expressed interest in coaching the Maple Leafs. He grew up in Belleville, Ontario, and coached Toronto’s AHL affiliate, the St. John’s Maple Leafs, for three years.

New York Rangers president and general manager Neil Smith agreed to terms on a multiyear contract extension with the club, Madison Square Garden president Dave Checketts said.