The NHL Retirement Thread

[in da crease 0]

Joe is one of the best NHL role models of all time for a young hockey players, on and off the ice. Thank you for that, Joe!

[Dean_ 0]

Sad to see Joe call it a career, but he had a great run.

[RadioGaGa 162]

He'll be Avalanche Managment in 3-2-1...

Ooh,that could be interesting.

Only makes sense to me...Hell, was Yzerman's gear even dry when they gave him a management job after his last game? Same type of guy.

[RecLeagueHero 0]

While it's sad to see any great player age out of the game, I think he made the best choice. I'd much rather a great player go out even if he could eek another couple of seasons out, than push it and end up retiring on a sour note.

[chk hrd 164]

End of an era. Sakic was always the face of the Avs. An incredible player with alot of class, we need more players and people like him. He is why my son wears #19, and I can't think of a better reason or role model. The NHL will miss him. Hopefully he will stay with the orginization in some capacity.

[ndlancer95 0]

End of an era. Sakic was always the face of the Avs. An incredible player with alot of class, we need more players and people like him. He is why my son wears #19, and I can't think of a better reason or role model. The NHL will miss him. Hopefully he will stay with the orginization in some capacity.

It's a long shot, but what are the chances of the Av's bringing him in as Head Coach or GM, like Garth Snow and the Isles ?

[Chadd 916]

They just hired a new coach and a new GM. Probably more like Ron Francis, working in the front office.

[diehardfan 0]

What a classy player, gonna be missed.

Top 10 Joe Sakic Moments, courtesy of TSN:

http://watch.tsn.ca/nhl/clip191438#clip191438

[interpathway 9]

What a great video. Chills watching it again, forgot what a clutch performer he was in his heydey (hell it always was his heydey I suppose). Thanks for the link.

[forsberg91 0]

The TSN tribute. Being from colorado i have to say it was special watching him play every year growing up. We'll miss him

[furlanitalia 1]

Wow, I remember that gold medal game. That performance was amazing. Surely he will be missed.

[NoAngleDangler 0]

Classy player, great leader. It will be sad to see him leave the show.

[diehardfan 0]

if anyone is interested, TSN has live coverage

http://watch.tsn.ca/live-on-tsnca/clip191367#clip191367

[_HSB_b345t 0]

Gov. Ritter and Footer nailed it: handing the Cup straight to Ray Bourque sums up Joe's career and personality perfectly.

[chippa13 1844]

You'd be hard pressed to find a captain in the NHL who wouldn't have handed it straight to Bourque.

[ponty 0]

I dont think it was your intent Chippa but I have a very hard time classifying Sakic with any other leader or captain for that matter for what he does and did on/off the ice.

I put Yzerman in his class and the list does not grow very large from that point. Would other guys have given it to Raymond? Hell yea but I can think of a bunch that would have done it with hesitation if at all.

Those names I will not bring up.

[Tricky4L 0]

Not to take anything away from his stellar career and impact on the game; but I have to wonder if stepping away from the game will make him more likely to open up about his junior career in Swift Current that he has been notoriously silent about. A book deal could create a buzz not seen since the steroid controversy with Jose's p.o.s. page turner. Judging by Sakic's character and personality though... I highly doubt it.

[RickeyG 0]

I find it sad that a guy like Sakic and even Jagr are going out with just a flicker of coverage.. Jagr hasn't retired but it seems pretty unlikely for him to come back at this point.

[ponty 0]

I find it sad that a guy like Sakic and even Jagr are going out with just a flicker of coverage.. Jagr hasn't retired but it seems pretty unlikely for him to come back at this point.

I find that we as Americans like the drama queens which is why Sakic is not getting much coverage here in the U.S. This applies to all sports.

[JR Boucicaut 3797]

Not to take anything away from his stellar career and impact on the game; but I have to wonder if stepping away from the game will make him more likely to open up about his junior career in Swift Current that he has been notoriously silent about. A book deal could create a buzz not seen since the steroid controversy with Jose's p.o.s. page turner. Judging by Sakic's character and personality though... I highly doubt it.

HIGHLY DOUBT he will go down that road. His silence on the matter speaks volumes unfortunately.

[fieldofdreams 0]

What is the back story on his junior career that everyone wants him to open up about? Something besides the bus crash?

[JR Boucicaut 3797]

Graham James was the coach in Swift Current that year.

[RadioGaGa 162]

Graham James was the coach in Swift Current that year.

Didn't someone (don't remember who...maybe Kennedy) say that there are other players that have never come forward...and went as far as saying they went on to high profile NHL careers, but never named names?

[JR Boucicaut 3797]

Graham James was the coach in Swift Current that year.

Didn't someone (don't remember who...maybe Kennedy) say that there are other players that have never come forward...and went as far as saying they went on to high profile NHL careers, but never named names?

Yes, when the whole Sheldon Kennedy thing went down (he sat next to Sakic on that bus) the said there was a high-profile NHL superstar involved but the name wasn't mentioned.

[QandA 0]

Graham James was the coach in Swift Current that year.

Didn't someone (don't remember who...maybe Kennedy) say that there are other players that have never come forward...and went as far as saying they went on to high profile NHL careers, but never named names?

Yes, when the whole Sheldon Kennedy thing went down (he sat next to Sakic on that bus) the said there was a high-profile NHL superstar involved but the name wasn't mentioned.

Theo Fleury is amongst the questionned as well.