Sakic Retire Rumors
Joe Sakic's Decision on Future to Come Soon
Joe Sakic, the perennial Colorado Avalanche star center, is considering the possibility of retirement after an illustrious 20-year career with the only franchise he has ever known. Sakic told a Denver radio station on Monday that he has been mulling a return for another NHL season, and that he will make up his mind soon. The NHL season is less than two months away and Sakic will need to get in shape as quickly as possible if he decides to return.
"I will say I don't want this to linger too much longer. I should make my final decision pretty soon," Sakic told Denver radio station FM Sports Radio 104.3 The Fan. "Whatever that is, I want to make sure it's 100 percent sure.
Sakic Return or Retire
Will Sakic retire? There are reasons to believe he will. For starters, he only played in 44 games last season due to a sports hernia injury. Athletes who have played full careers for nearly twenty years are susceptible to injury more frequently and the rehabilitation is quite strenuous. During the playoffs last season, Sakic was a -7 in 10 games in the significant plus/minus rating statistic. He may not be the player he once was. Sakic’s decision to return to hockey could be impacted by the nearly seven months of grueling games, practice, and travel that are due to begin soon.
Sakic Rumors
Earning over 100 points in six different seasons, Sakic is widely hailed as a shoe-in to the NHL Hall of Fame. The former Quebec Nordique who came into the league as a precocious 19-year old has been taking his time this year in making a final decision. The 39-year old did not take the Brett Favre retirement path and retire immediately after the season because his aging body was worn down. On the other hand, Sakic has waited patiently before coming to a conclusion. “I needed some extra time this year,” Sakic said Monday “It’s been a very, very difficult decision to make. I’m hoping to have something here in the next couple of weeks, make my final decision and go forward with it.”
Sakic Retire Rumor
Will Sakic return? After taking the summer off to recoup, Sakic has many reasons to return. He did not finish his career on a high note. Not only did he miss 44 games last year due to injury, his team was crushed by the Detroit Red Wings in the playoffs. If Sakic returns, he will have had the necessary time to become fully healthy and might be able to play in three-fourths of Colorado's games, if not more. Sakic also ranks as the eighth leading point-scorer in NHL history. It may be a stretch, but Sakic is only 94 points behind the seventh place holder, Mario Lemieux, and 126 behind the sixth-leading scorer, Steve Yzerman. It could take two seasons to jump those players on the list. However, if he progresses this season, stays relatively injury-free, and the Avalanche are in contention again, that possibility exists.
"At the end of the year, to be honest with you, I didn't know if I was going to come back," he told the radio station. "I needed that time to really think about my future. It was a tougher decision than I thought it was going to be at the end of the year."
Whatever decision Sakic makes, it will be well thought out and in the best interest of himself and his franchise.
Sakic Retiring
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