Yes. I don't know if we'll ever hear a definitive answer to this, but I think the story that has been widely reported ("the Avalanche are not interested in you and never will be") has never quite added up. Even though Roy seemed intent on getting away from little speedy guys, and I can see him saying or thinking something like that in private, there's nothing to be gained by going out of their way to tell the player that in person, especially when they still had his rights for another year or more. I don't think Roy was a particularly good coach, but he's not stupid.