DENVER, Colo. – With a voice occasionally quavering with emotion and eyes glinting with moisture, Joe Sakic announced his decision to retire from the National Hockey League’s Colorado Avalanche after 20 years of playing the game of hockey. In this day of free agency and restrictive salary caps, very few NHL players remain with the same franchise for their entire careers but Sakic , despite an offer from the Rangers to come play with Wayne Gretzky at one point in his career, remained with the Quebec Nordiques/Colorado Avalanche franchise throughout his entire 20 year career. Drafted in the first round of the 1987 entry draft (26th overall) by the Quebec City team, Sakic was an accomplished goal scorer and budding two way player with the Swift Current Broncos of the Western Hockey League (WHL). Although his smallish stature most likely caused his draft number to be somewhat lower than the scouting reports indicated, Sakic at age 18, was already a well spoken and mature hockey player who actually requested an extra year of playing Major Junior Hockey in order to maximize his NHL readiness. His auspicious debut with the Nordiques in the 1988-89 season was well received scoring 23 goals with 39 assists for 62 points in 70 regular season games. Since that first season with the franchise Sakic has been at least a point a game scorer and a consistent big game player with the ability to lift his game when his skill is needed the most, evidenced by the fact that he holds the record for the most overtime playoff game winning goals in the NHL with 8. Named as the Nordiques team captain after the trade of Peter Stastny, Sakic has been the face of the franchise every since, especially after the move to Denver when the Nordiques became the Colorado Avalanche. His leadership brought the very first sports championship of any kind to the city of Denver when the Avalanche won the 1996 Stanley Cup with Sakic winning the Conn Smyth trophy as playoff MVP. Their second championship in 2001 cemented Sakic’s most remembered character traits, that of a very humble and generous superstar. His decision to pass the Stanley Cup immediately to 22 year veteran Ray Bourque the first crack at skating with the cup before he took his turn was the epitome of this humility and generosity. The other recurring theme heard throughout his career is that Joe Sakic is a very intelligent and genuine person. This was reiterated by media members, front office personnel, teammates, as well as former rivals upon hearing of his retirement. Sakic owns many scoring records with the Avalanche and Nordiques. He was also voted to play in 15 All star contests (playing in 13 of the 15 games) and was voted All Star MVP. In fact Sakic retires as the only player to ever be the league MVP (Hart), playoff MVP (Conn Smythe), All-Star game MVP, and Olympic MVP. Sakic has played for Team Canada in the Olympics, World Jr. Championships, World Sr. Championships, and the Canada Cup winning at every level and facet of the game. Finally the injuries caught up with him last season when Sakic suffered a disc injury while doing his routine weight lifting regimen. The surgery to repair the disc caused continued weakness to his left leg and he was never able to fully regain his explosive skating stride. True to himself he made the decision to retire rather than continue to play at a level that was not up to his high standards. A soft spoken, highly talented, intelligent, humble, generous father and husband, Sakic, the Captain and face of the franchise, and certain hall-of-famer will be sorely missed by all associated with hockey for many years to come. Contact the author at terry.sanford@prohockeynews.com
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