Bazooka Joe: Sakic off the bubble

After chewing it over for weeks, captain decides to return

By Rick Sadowski, Rocky Mountain News (Contact)

Published August 27, 2008 at 1:26 p.m.

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Photo by The Rocky / 2007

Avalanche team captain Joe Sakic, left, said in a statement: "Ultimately, it came down to the fact that I still enjoy playing."

Ian Laperriere admitted he was getting concerned.

It had been more than three months since the Avalanche's season ended, and Joe Sakic still hadn't decided whether to return for a 20th NHL season or retire.

"When you don't hear any news for a while, you're kind of worried," said Laperriere, one of the team's most popular forwards. "Everybody was kind of wondering what he was going to do."

The suspense ended Wednesday, when the Avalanche announced Sakic, the franchise's all-time leading scorer, would be back for another season.

Sakic, 39, signed a one-year, $6 million contract - $750,000 less than last season's deal - and will report with the rest of the team Sept. 19 for medicals and physical testing. Official training camp sessions begin the next day.

"Ultimately, it came down to the fact that I still enjoy playing and competing," Sakic said in a statement. "I'm comfortable with my conditioning and my overall health. I'm ready for the start of camp and am looking forward to the upcoming season."

So the captain is back, and Laperriere couldn't be happier.

"It's great news," he said. "We talked a little bit this summer, but you want to give the guy some room. You don't want to bug him every time you talk. I'm just glad he's back. You're a much better team with Joe Sakic on your team.

"I don't care if he's 39. He's such a special player. He's such a special human being. I'm pumped. I'm excited to see him coming on the ice. I can't emphasize enough what he brings to the team."

Don Baizley, Sakic's agent, said Sakic called him late Tuesday to inform him he'd decided to return for the 2008-09 season.

"He told me he made up his mind," Baizley said.

Sakic will hold a news conference today at Sanctuary in Sedalia before his annual golf tournament that benefits Food Bank of the Rockies' children's programs, but he's expected to limit discussions to the charity event.

Because the Democratic National Convention in Denver is drawing so much attention, coupled with the upcoming Labor Day weekend, Avalanche officials said they will wait until Tuesday to conduct a formal news conference for Sakic.

"Our entire organization is very excited to have Joe back for another season," Avalanche general manager Francois Giguere said in a statement. "As the only captain of the Avalanche, his record of achievement speaks for itself. Having him return is great for our franchise and community, but also for the game of hockey."

Giguere kept in contact with Sakic after the season ended but wouldn't push him to make a decision, saying the likely future Hall of Famer deserved whatever time he needed.

"He earned that right to take his time," Laperriere said. "He's done everything for this organization. I think that's the way Francois was thinking, and I think it was the right approach. We tried to give him the respect that he earned and tried not to bring it up every single time we talked to him."

Sakic recorded 13 goals and 27 assists in 44 games last season, having missed 38 games to recover from a groin injury and, eventually, surgery for a sports hernia. He led the Avalanche in playoff scoring with 10 points (two goals, eight assists) in 10 games.

"Anytime you get a player like Joe coming back for another year, it's great news," defenseman John-Michael Liles said. "I was optimistic that he was coming back. At the same time, if he didn't come back, it wouldn't be the end of the world. Our job is to go out and play the best we can, whether that's with Joe or without him.

"But, hey, trust me, I'm one of the happiest people that Joe's coming back. We're much better off with a player of Joe's caliber, along with what he brings off the ice."

Sakic has scored 30 or more goals nine times and 100 or more points six times. He has played in 12 NHL All-Star Games, won the Hart Trophy as most valuable player in 2001, the Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP in 1996 and an Olympic gold medal with Canada in 2002, when he was chosen as the tournament's most valuable player.

He ranks eighth in NHL history in points (1,629), 11th in assists (1,006) and 14th in goals (623).

"But what people don't see is the way he is in the (locker) room," Laperriere said. "For the younger guys - and for the older guys, too - players look up to him for what he does on a daily basis. He's just a workhorse. He works so hard on and off the ice. He's a superstar, but he's a pro and a great example for everybody."

Sakic's significant contracts

* 1989-90: Joe Sakic is paid $86,330 as an NHL rookie with the Quebec Nordiques.

* 1993-94: He reaches seven figures for the first time at $1,671,560.

* July 1997: As a restricted free agent, he accepts a three-year, $21 million offer sheet, which includes a $15 million signing bonus, from the New York Rangers. The Avalanche matches the offer, which pays Sakic $2 million in salary in each of the next three seasons, along with the bonus.

* June 2001: Shortly before he is eligible to become an unrestricted free agent, Sakic is signed to a five-year, $50.5 million contract with an option for a sixth year at $6.7 million. The Avalanche also re-signs potential free agents Rob Blake and Patrick Roy. The fourth year of Sakic's deal is wiped out by the 2004-05 lockout and canceled season.

* June 2006: He re-signs for one year at $5.75 million.

* April 2007: After missing the playoffs for the first time since the team has been in Denver, the Avalanche re-signs Sakic to a one-year, $6.75 million contract.

* Wednesday: Three-and-a-half months after the Avalanche is swept by Detroit in the Western Conference semifinals, Sakic decides to return for another season and signs a one-year, $6 million deal.

• August 27, 2008

  1:44 p.m.

  Suggest removal

  dilligaf writes:

  I will stick to my guns and say these guys are grossly over paid. But if they are going to pay that kind of money I would just prefer it go to a class act like Joe.

• August 27, 2008

  2:28 p.m.

  Suggest removal

  Ahab337 writes:

  Hockey players are paid a lot less than football or baseball players. How much does A-Rod get paid again? I think it's something like more than the combined salaries of the entire Florida Marlins.

  Welcome back, Joe. Can't wait to see you again this season!

• August 27, 2008

  2:33 p.m.

  Suggest removal

  ilovegambling writes:

  Football players are the grossly overpaid, NBA players are grossly overpaid, MLB players are grossly overpaid. Hockey players earn much less than either, and deal with more punishment to their bodies than the NFL, NBA, and MLB combined. Compare the average salaries between these sports. Sports Illustrated listed the top 100 paid athletes in the US and the world. Guess how many out of the 100 were NHL players? None. Stick to your guns, but you're wrong.

• August 27, 2008

  2:48 p.m.

  Suggest removal

  cpd writes:

  Hey, pro athletes are paid based on management's view of how they fill the ballparks, stadia and arenas. Yeah, salary caps can fuzz the edges. But, make no mistake about it, the player's salaries are determined by how much revenue they bring in. You don't see the Red Sox, Yankees, Red Wings, Lakers playing to empty seats.

• August 27, 2008

  2:57 p.m.

  Suggest removal

  GJrodburner writes:

  It could be argued that at this stage of Joe's career that he shouldn't command that much salary for one N.H.L. season's worth of work. Given how much he has meant to this franchise, even when it was struggling to win games in Quebec, IMO he is worth way more than what he will get for his services this season.

  I want Joe to have an injury free year, in order for him to put up the numbers for this team they are going to need in order for Tony Granato to be able to coach and not look over his shoulder. As discouraged as I was about the hiring of Tony Granato, and I think it will only take the first ten games of the season to see where he and team are at, I would really love to hear what Joe thought of that coaching hire, and to find out what he thought about the losses of certain teamates through F.A., or outright no contract offered. When the day comes that Joe does retire, I would like to see him step into the front office for this team.

  Thank God the man's with us and not against us! Can't wait for you to lace 'em up Joe and start another year for us again.

• August 27, 2008

  3:54 p.m.

  Suggest removal

  Willy writes:

  The perfect example of a class act. Thanks super Joe!!!

• August 27, 2008

  4:23 p.m.

  Suggest removal

  4gColoNative writes:

  I really like to see Joe play, and think he's a good guy. But it's too much money for a swan song season. This is like a CEO's golden parachute. For someone who doesn't need the money.

  Extremely unlikely he would go play for another team for one last year in the league, so it's not like this prevents the Avs from having to play against him.

  What would have been really "super" would be for Joe to play for millions less and have the savings spent on a number of up-and-coming players. The future of the team and not the past.

• August 27, 2008

  5:10 p.m.

  Suggest removal

  quanzabot writes:

  woohooo!!!!!! Joe is a once in lifetime player that we have been privileged to watch him for the last 13 years, so excited for another one

• August 27, 2008

  8:07 p.m.

  Suggest removal

  farsidefan writes:

  One more year with Joe, yea !!
  When i hear people talk about athletes being overpaid I remind them that it is just entertainment. I think Oprah is overpaid.

• August 27, 2008

  10:24 p.m.

  Suggest removal

  bxwatso writes:

  Joe is Mr. Clutch. Nobody in hockey elevates the play in overtime and other clutch moments better than Joe. This might be the last season with him, but he will go out on top.

  This is a happy day for ticket holders who have seen nothing but disappointment during the off season.

• August 28, 2008

  7:34 a.m.

  Suggest removal

  ML writes:

  I have had the pleasure to meet him a couple of times, and he truly is a very humble & classy guy. Great to have him back for one more year!

• August 28, 2008

  9:48 a.m.

  Suggest removal

  RockLobster writes:

  Ditto, ML. Joe is one of the best to ever lace up the skates, but he's an even better man.

  What a treat to have "Super" dawn the Burgundy and Blue for one more year!

• August 28, 2008

  12:16 p.m.

  Suggest removal

  dietpepsi writes:

  welcome back Joe - but you never really left... NOW i hope the so-called Avz "fans" who switched jerseys during the redwingz series ACTUALLY DO LEAVE TOWN. we got NO NEED for lameness in the can. you behind-the-back-stabbing [red wing] uglies who showed up the real avz fanz last playoffs by putting on the red-n-white and gave national TV the impression that Denver has more detroitness [i thot the games were ALL in detroit!] better SHOW UP and support the HOME TEAM. or better yet, go back to your gas-guzzling polluted motorcity and leave Colorado to the TRUE fanz who respect our team.
  and a note to those who didn't dump beer on the redwingerz in front of them - L A M E

• September 1, 2008

  10:25 a.m.

  Suggest removal

  GJrodburner writes:

  Why detract from your pocket book by pouring a perfectly freakin' good beer on a 'wings fan? Just out of curiosity dietpepsi did you see the posts during the summer that mrbrightside had running in regards to my proposal as to what to do with the red-and-white who just got to be to obnoxious?

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