Joe Sakic to Announce Retirement

After 20 seasons in the NHL, Joe Sakic is expected to officially announce his retirement at a press conference on Thursday, according to the Denver Post.

Sakic was originally taken with the 15th pick in 1987, when the franchise was still in Quebec, and spent his entire career with the organization -- a career that will certainly be honored with a Hall of Fame ceremony in the near future.

The past two seasons were a challenge for the 40-year-old, as a multitude of injuries held him to only 59 of a possible 164 games. Sakic had surgery on a hernia two years ago and last season missed time due to a herniated disc and broken fingers from an incident with a snowblower. But regardless of the injuries, he was almost a point-per-game player until the end, amassing 52 points during those injury-plagued seasons.

Recent injuries aside, Sakic had a great ability to stay healthy and play through pain for most of his career. His final numbers through 20 seasons are 1,378 games, 625 goals, 1,016 assists and 1,641 points. Those give him an average season stat line of 69 games, 31 goals, 51 assists, and 82 points -- exceptional numbers without a doubt. He retires as the franchise leader in all four of those categories.

In NHL history, Sakic is up there with the greatest. He retires ranked eighth all-time in points, 11th in assists, 14th in goals and 12th in power play goals. Sakic won two Stanley Cups with the Avalanche, in 1996 and 2001, in addition to helping Canada win a gold medal at the 2002 Olympics.

Sports Retirements

Colorado Avalanche center Joe Sakic is finally retiring after 20 memorable seasons in the NHL, which included two Stanley Cup victories and 13 All-Star Game selections. Click through to see sports stars who hung it up recently.

Jack Dempsey, AP

June 8: Dan Morgan, a first-round pick in the 2001 draft, announced his retirement for the second time after an inability to overcome numerous injuries.

Doug Benc, Getty Images

May 6: Holly McPeak, who won 72 career titles, called it quits from the Association of Volleyball Professionals Tour.

Streeter Lecka, Getty Images

April 21: "For me, basketball is over," Dikembe Mutombo said after a knee injury knocked him out of the Rockets' playoff game against the Trail Blazers. The 18-year veteran was the NBA's oldest player at 43.

Sam Forencich, NBAE/Getty Images

April 14: Oscar De La Hoya calls it a career after winning an Olympic gold medal and 10 world titles in six divisions.

John Gurzinski, AFP / Getty Images

March 23: Pitcher Curt Schilling announced on his blog that he's retiring after 23 years with "zero regrets."

Winslow Townson, AP

Dec. 11, 2008: Cuttino Mobley announced he was forced to retire because of a heart disease.

NBA/Getty Images

Dec. 8: Morten Anderson, who scored 2,437 points during his career, retired from the NFL at age 48.

Doug Benc, Getty Images

Dec. 8: Four-time Cy Young winner Greg Maddux officially announced his retirement. The 42-year-old legend, who earned a record 18 Gold Gloves, finished eighth on the career wins list with 355.

Kevork Djansezian, AP

Nov. 20: Mike Mussina, just weeks shy of turning 40, officially announced his retirement. The pitcher had 270 career wins and compiled a 20-9 record with the Yankees in 2008.

Jim Rogash, Getty Images

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)

7-07-2009 @ 6:27PM

Josh said...

Sakic is a first ballot hall of famer. Him, Yzerman, Lemiuex, Messier, and Gretzky are all on the same platform if you ask me.

There are very few players with his amount of class left in this league and I, for one, will miss him. And that's coming a lifelong Wings fan who still, to this day, hates the Avs.

Thank you for an amazing career, Joe. You will be missed.

7-07-2009 @ 7:10PM

qongquest said...

this red wings fan hated all avs except sakic.
the only one with class from the team that red wing fans were bitter rivals just a few years ago. a good time for him to retire. the avs will be lucky to get into the playoffs in the next 3 years.

7-08-2009 @ 12:45AM

claytor said...

He was Datsyuk before Pavel Datsyuk existed, shall be sad to see him go, thanks for the memories, Joey Classic!

7-08-2009 @ 8:28AM

zodiacspeaking1 said...

Great player. Hall of famer for sure!

7-08-2009 @ 9:11AM

Tonap Builders said...

I live in Denver, he (sackic) was mediocre at best, once in awhile he played like a journeyman

7-08-2009 @ 10:22AM

tmk2290 said...

moron

7-08-2009 @ 11:42AM

You're an idiot. Sakic is one of the Top 5 forwards (perhaps any position) of the 90's and brought Colorado 2 cups. You have no idea what you are speaking about.

7-08-2009 @ 3:29PM

craig said...

Wow, you're obviously not a public Red Wings fan in Denver. Not enough can be said about Joe but I will add this; he was every bit the game changer as Elway or Montana, but did it in a less in-your-face manner than other elite stars. He was more Magic johnson than Michael Jordan, to cross sports analogies. I grew up with the LA Kings, a franchise mired in mediocrity...in a good year. Sakic, Forsberg and the Avs of the 90's not only brought 2 cups and high expectations to Colorado, but they drew in an enormous amount of fans to the NHL. That couldn't have happened watching mediocre at best players or teams. I'd call you an idiot but that would be an insult to idiots the world over...

7-08-2009 @ 4:24PM

johnnyskills said...

umm, glad for the info that you live in Denver, but that still doesn't account for your dumb ass comment. Sakic "was mediocre at best" i believe you said. Really? He wasn't part of the reason for the cups in Colorado? What kind of mediocre player makes it on to a CANADIAN Olympic team? they got more then enough talent to pick from, don't they?

I suggest you get your head right and give the man hie due respect.

7-08-2009 @ 7:45PM

Hello, Christy said...

I too live in Denver & you have no idea what you are talking about! If you are going to make comments try to stick to something that you do in fact have some clue about besides just wasting time & space! When we should be reading peoples praise about Joe Sakic's long lustrious & distinguished career contrubting to the NHL, Team Canada, & his community. All while raising a beautiful family! Enough said.

7-08-2009 @ 9:17AM

Sakic was definitely "No Ordinary Joe". He IS the classiest NHL player ever. For someone to say he was "mediocre at best" is the biggest insult. 2 Stanley Cup championships prove you wrong!

7-08-2009 @ 10:31AM

Not only was he just average(I think way overated),he would have rode the bench if he played in the Motor City,as a "starter" for the avalanches,it just shows how the avs sucked as a whole.As far as 2 championships,what have they done since? They are the same as the pussy broncos,2 titles not much else.Now having said that , look at the Red Wings,they keep producing and are still the elite of the NHL, the avs are and always will be Wannabes

7-08-2009 @ 11:46AM

Ok, dude. I'm a huge Wings fan. I hate Colorado to this day. But you cannot honestly say they were wannabes. Wannabes do not win 2 cups. Wannabes do not cause so much trouble for the Wings. The only reason they did not win the cup in 2002 is because Roy had the second worst game of his career (the first being his final game in Montreal, coincidentally also against the Wings). If Roy had been on his game and had won that game, the Avs would have had 3 in 6-7 years. Sakic was the leader of that organization for years and years. As far as I am concerned, 19 should be retired league wide as much as 99 was. Sakic and Yzerman together mount up to be much much more than Gretzky was.

7-08-2009 @ 2:17PM

docconcreteguy said...

How many superbowl titles are in Detroit? You red wing fans suck. Super Joe was as good as they get.Yes the Avs have been down but they will be back.They have a great Owner that will bring a cup back to Colorado

7-08-2009 @ 2:21PM

dboiani said...

extreme moron. probably too young to remember ( or so stupid you're ingnoring it) how JS carried the nordiques on his back and left his guts on the ice playing for Canada. Come to think of it, I think stupid is the more likely explanation.

7-08-2009 @ 6:26PM

gdsheck3 said...

I HAVE TO COMMENT ON THIS IDIOT. AS A LIFELONG WINGS FAN , I THINK I CAN SPEAK FOR THE REST OF THE MOTOR CITY BY SAYING , NEXT TO YZERMAN SAKIC MAY BE ONE OF THE GREATEST LEADERS , TALENTED , HARDEST WORKING PLAYERS TO EVER LACE THEM UP. SO ,TO YOU SAKIC FANS OUT THERE DONT LISTEN TO THIS IDIOT. HE OBVIOUSLY HAS NO CLUE. MOTOR CITY GIVES JOE HIS PROPS.

7-08-2009 @ 8:52PM

Fred said...

Apparently you didn't watch the Stanley Cup finals. The Red Wings lost to MY team (the Penguins) who were not supposed to have any chance of beating them. It was a great series, and I really enjoyed it. The Wings played very well, but Pittsburgh seemed to be more determined to win than they were. Not to brag, but what other city has had their professional sports teams win both the Stanley Cup and the Super Bowl in the same year? Although I was born and raised in the Pittsburgh area, I now live in Oklahoma. However I never forget where I came from. Oklahoma City is currently negotiating with the Edmonton Oilers to get an AHL team. I believe it is going to happen. Hockey is surprisingly popular in Oklahoma.So is college football, in case you hadn't noticed.

7-08-2009 @ 1:50PM

Duane said...

It's a sad day. I still find it hard to believe Yzerman retired. It won't be the same without either #19 in the game. All the guys I watched are all retiring. Now for the retarded troll who claims Sakic was mediocre and overrated, the Conn Smythe doesn't get awarded to mediocre and overrated players. Idiot.