Joel Quenneville is out as coach of the Avalanche after three seasons, a week after Colorado was swept out of the playoffs by the Detroit Red Wings.

Quenneville was 131-92-23 in Denver but just 2-2 in playoff series after inheriting a team that was on the slide after a decade of dominance in the NHL.

"After meeting with Joel, we mutually agreed that the best decision for both parties involved is to go separate ways," Avalanche executive vice president and general manager Francois Giguere said.

Giguere doesn't have a timeline for when he'll hire a new coach, but he wants the Avalanche to play with more speed.

"We've always been an organization that's been a puck-possession, upbeat, high-tempo, high-energy, attacking [team]," Giguere said. "That's the way the Avalanche have always played, and I think that's the way I foresee this team continuing to play."

KOLZIG LEAVES CAPITALS: Olie Kolzig will not return with the Washington Capitals, the only NHL team the goalie has ever played for, but hasn't decided whether he will play next season.

Kolzig, 38, was relegated to being a backup down the stretch this season and in the playoffs after Washington traded for Montreal goalie Cristobal Huet.

MASTERTON FINALISTS NAMED: Left wing Jason Blake of the Toronto Maple Leafs, defenseman Chris Chelios of the Detroit Red Wings and right wing Fernando Pisani of the Edmonton Oilers were selected Friday as finalists for the Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy.

The award, given out by the Professional Hockey Writers' Association, is presented annually to the NHL player who best exemplifies the qualities of perseverance, sportsmanship and dedication to hockey. The winner will be announced June 12.

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