Say it ain't so, Joe. We knew it was coming. But it wasn't supposed to end this way. Joe Sakic was not supposed to end his 20-year career on the injured list. When he announced his retirement, he admitted that he felt he could no longer play at the level he expected of himself. The truth of the matter, however, is that he feels the Avalanche can no longer play at the level the franchise has become accustomed to, although Joe would never say so.
He is a big-game player. Mr. Clutch. His record breaking eight playoff overtime goals are a testament to that. As he was relegated to the sidelines last year, he watched his team flounder through a miserable season, finishing at the bottom of the Western Conference.
When the season ended, he was forced to face the sad facts. The Avs can no longer match the standard of play that they set in their first decade in Denver. They are not contenders, and they are no longer shoe-ins for the playoffs. The big games are few and far between. Joe Sakic is too loyal to the city of Denver and the Avalanche to have even considered signing elsewhere, for a chance at one more Stanley Cup. One more playoff run. So Mr. Clutch decided to hang up the skates.
And now, the Avalanche are left with the difficult task of replacing their captain. Conventional wisdom would suggest rewarding it to veterans Adam Foote or Milan Hejduk, both of whom go way back with the Avs. But Foote is nearly as old as Sakic, and Hejduk is no spring chicken either. If the Avs are serious about rebuilding, which they should be, they should give the "C" to Paul Stastny. The young Mr. Stastny has repeatedly been praised for his maturity and intelligence on the ice. If anyone can follow Joe Sakic's class act, it's Stastny. He grew up around the game of hockey, part of a well-known hockey family. Who better to lead the next generation of Avs, and help resurrect a struggling franchise?
The Avs will make a comeback. But Joe Sakic can't wait around for that to happen. He is forty, after all. He did the right thing, helping the Avalanche move towards the future. Sure, he'll miss the game, miss his teammates, but he won't play the Brett Favre card and try to make a comeback. He has far too much respect for the game to do that. Captain Joe is gone for good, but his legacy will long be remembered. So long, Joe. And thanks for the memories.