It appears as though theColorado Avalanche's search for a new general manager is coming to a conclusion.
Outgoing GM Pierre Lacroix, who will remain as team president, is believed to be leaning to one of hisformer assistants, Francois Giguere,who just completed his third season as an assistant GM with the Dallas Stars.
Giguere, 42,held several positions with the Avalanche and Quebec Nordiques for parts of 12 seasons before leaving for Dallas in January 2002. Giguere was vice president of hockey operations with the Avalanche in 2000-01 when the team won its second Stanley Cup and assistant GM from 1995-2000; an administrative assistant in Quebec from 1993-95; and controller in the Nordiques finance department from 1990-93.
While in Dallas, Giguere has worked on contract negotiations with player agents, was responsible for tracking the budget for the hockey operations department, and coordinated the regular-season schedule with the NHL.
Giguere and his wife, Brigitte, have two teen-aged sons.
Lacroix, 58, announced on May 12 that he was giving up his GM position to spend more time with his family. The Avalanche upset Dallas in five games in the Western Conference quarterfinals but was swept by Anaheim in the conference semifinals.
