Oliver Earns Promotion In Massive Avalanche Shake-Up:

This is in todays Morning Star Newspaper:

Oliver earns promotion in massive Avalanche shake-up

By Graeme Corbett - Vernon Morning Star

Published: June 04, 2009

Former Vernon Laker Dave Oliver is going to have plenty of fresh, young faces to get to know over the summer.
Oliver, formerly of Vernon, was named director of player development with the NHL’s Colorado Avalanche after the organization underwent a massive shake-up Wednesday.
Also in the Avalanche restructuring, head coach Tony Granato was replaced by Joe Sacco, assistant GM Greg Sherman moved up to the vacant GM position left by Francois Giguere’s departure, and Eric Lacroix is now to director of hockey operations.
The Avalanche finished last in the Western Conference (32-45-5) last season, which led to the firings. Long-term injuries to captain Joe Sakic and sniper Paul Stastny didn’t help the Av’s cause.
Oliver, who became GM of the Lake Erie Monsters (Colorado’s American Hockey League affiliate) two years ago, is thrilled with the prospect of getting to work with the Av’s young prospects.
“I get to be a little more hands on with our up-and-coming players,” said Oliver, from his home in Cleveland. “It’s nice to get a hold of them before they reach the AHL level so you can instill the organization’s values in them before they get there.”
Oliver’s main mandate will be to offer guidance to Colorado’s draft picks, juniors, Europeans, college players and “pretty much anyone who is in our system.”
The 38-year-old is hoping to get a head start on meeting most of them at training camps this summer.
Oliver will be talking to players about fitness, nutrition, physiology, psychology and just about anything else that will help them meet their goal of playing pro hockey.
“Sometimes it’s overload,” said Oliver, of all the information that gets put on the players. “Even if they don’t pick up all of it, if they can pick up pieces here and there, they’ll be better off.
“It’s a time when these kids are just starting to leave from home, and they need guidance. It’s rewarding to see these kids grow. It’s where my passion lies.”
After 19 seasons of Junior A, NCAA and pro hockey as a player, Oliver has plenty of experience to draw from. He ended his NHL career in the 2005-06 season, playing three games in Dallas and another 54 with their AHL affiliate Iowa Stars, bagging 34 points.
Like most players his age, Oliver had to figure things out for himself as his career progressed.
“Development really wasn’t part of it then. Either you made it, or you didn’t. There really wasn’t that guidance available.
“I think I’ve got a pretty good idea of things I could have done better, and if I can pass that on I think we’ll be in a pretty good place. We all make mistakes in our careers... and helping these players avoid making those mistakes will only help.”
Oliver is highly impressed with Colorado’s development system, and says he’s looking forward to working with Billington, the Av’s former director of player development, who he credits for putting a lot of those systems in place.
Given the NHL’s new salary cap era, combined with uncertain economic times (many predict the revenue-based salary cap will drop in coming years), Oliver says it is more important than ever to be able to develop talent from within.