Goalie Philipp Grubauer was the No. 3 signing priority for the Avalanche, but the budget probably shrunk too much when he became the focus, and then Colorado ran out of time.

Colorado Avalanche goaltender Philipp Grubauer takes a drink during a timeout during the second period of the team’s NHL hockey game against the New Jersey Devils on Sunday, March 17, 2019, in ...

More than three weeks passed between Avalanche games inside the Pepsi Center when Colorado finally returned to its home ice on Tuesday night.

Colorado Avalanche goaltender Philipp Grubauer (31) during the second period of game 2 in first-round series at Ball Arena on May 19, 2021 in Denver.

Colorado Avalanche goalie Philipp Grubauer (31) makes the save during the first period of an NHL Stanley Cup qualifying round game in Edmonton, Alberta, Saturday, Aug. 8, 2020.

Former Avalanche goalie Philipp Grubauer is scheduled to serve as the Seattle Kraken’s backup when the teams play for the first time on Friday night.

Colorado Avalanche goalie Philipp Grubauer, right, blocks a shot by Chicago Blackhawks center Jonathan Toews during the second period of an NHL hockey game Sunday, March 24, 2019, in Chicago.

Grubauer has a 6-2 record with a 1.01 goals-against average and a .967 save percentage over eight starts.

Philipp Grubauer #31 of the Colorado Avalanche is attended to by a trainer following a second period injury against the Dallas Stars in Game One of the Western Conference Second Round during the ...

Philipp Grubauer made 38 saves for his first shutout of the season, helping the Colorado Avalanche beat the Nashville Predators 5-0 Saturday for their fourth straight victory.

Mikko Rantanen scored his team-leading 12th goal and goalie Philipp Grubauer produced his career-high fourth shutout of the season Friday night as the Avalanche again dominated at Ball Arena but ...

Colorado Avalanche goaltender Philipp Grubauer, right, uses his stick to knock the puck away from Arizona Coyotes left wing Michael Bunting as Colorado defenseman Devon Toews defends in the third ...