Colorado hired Dave Barr as an assistant coach on Wednesday, rounding out the Avalanche coaching staff for the 2008-2009 season.
''Dave brings a vast coaching experience both at the professional and the major junior levels,'' said Avalanche executive vice president and general manager Francois Giguere. ''He showed great commitment and work ethic as an NHL player for more than a dozen years and most recently managed a strong program in Guelph.''
Barr spent the past four seasons with the Guelph Storm of the Ontario Hockey League, where he served as both general manager and head coach since 2004. He won the Matt Leyden Trophy honouring him as the OHL's Coach of the Year during the 2005-06 season and served as head coach of Canada's National Summer Under-18 Team last year.
''I am very excited to join this hockey team and to have an opportunity to return to the National Hockey League,'' said Barr. ''The Avalanche has established itself as a premier organization in hockey and in major league sports. I feel very privileged to be a part of this group and am already looking forward to the start of training camp.''
Barr, a Toronto, Ontario native, is a veteran of 614 regular season games in 13 NHL seasons as a forward with the Boston Bruins (1981-83), New York Rangers (1983-84), St. Louis Blues (1983-87), Hartford Whalers (1986-87), Detroit Red Wings (1986-91), New Jersey Devils (1991-93) and Dallas Stars (1993-94).