Is this the final game, Avalanche fans? I’m worried that it might be, and I’m having a tough time coming to grips with it.
I don’t mean the final game of the season. I’m as optimistic as any fan of the team, and I just don’t see them beating this Detroit team four times in a row. Heck, I’m not even sure they can beat them one time in a row, as they are 0-7 against the Wings this year. The Wings winning the series is as close to inevitable as it gets. If it’s going to end, it might as well end tonight, on home ice. No sense drawing this out.
My fear, of course, is that this may be the final game for the one hockey player I idolize - Joe Sakic. I could list all of his career achievements here, but you guys already know the drill. He’s the best player to ever wear an Avalanche jersey (yes, Detroit fans, I know that’s only a 13 year history and no, I don’t give a fuck). He’ll likely be the best player to ever wear an Avalanche jersey for a long, long time.
In this day and age of conditioning, 38 years old is not quite as ancient as it used to be. Nick Lidstrom will likely win the Norris trophy again and he’s just 8 months younger than Super Joe. Other players around Sakic’s age or older are still playing - Brendan Shanahan, Sergei Fedorov, Mathieu Schneider, Mark Recchi, Gary Roberts and, of course, Chris Chelios. Steve Yzerman retired at 41. Mario Lemieux played until he was 40.
But Father Time catches up with everyone eventually, even heroes. Sakic is not the same player he was even just one year ago. He seems to have lost far more than just a step or two, and his dangerous wrist shot is no longer striking fear into the hearts of opposing goalies. It may simply be due to the injury he suffered this year, but that’s immaterial. At that age, once you start losing it, it’s almost impossible to get it back (as I’m reminded every morning as I watch a few more hairs wash down the shower drain).
Even with diminished skills, Sakic clearly has the secondary skills to continue to be a useful player. He showed us (and Minnesota) in round 1 that he can still have an impact on the game, but it won’t be with the consistency he’s had in the past. That’s fine with me. Personally, he’d have a spot on any team I was running as long as he’s willing and able to lace on the skates. Is it fine with Joe, though?
I’m not even going to pretend to tell you I have any idea what Sakic is thinking right now. I could go on about body language, family matters and going out on top…blah blah blah blah. I’ve never met the man and I have enough trouble trying to predict the actions of people I do know. He could play for 5 more years for all I know, or, perhaps, he could retire tomorrow. I will say, though, that Super Joe doesn’t strike me as a “Farewell Tour” type of guy. I don’t expect him to give us a lot of advance notice about his departure. And that’s why if the game isn’t going our way, I’ll be wondering as the final seconds tick of the clock if this is my hero’s final shift in his final game. I sincerely hope that won’t be the case. My favorite team just won’t be the same.
DD, Hell of a post man. Sakic represents the old guard of the NHL. Here’s to 1 more year, hopefully. For both him and the aforementioned “Scary” Gary Roberts.
I think we’ve discovered, especially with Gary Roberts, what amazing value older players can provide. But Gary Roberts doesn’t have 1600 career points, and he never scored 100 points in a season. His value is grit and leadership. Sakic’s value is his ridiculously high skill level, and I’m sure he’s keenly aware that it has started to fade a bit.
Yzerman hung on for a couple of years past what he should have (don’t kill me, Wings fans). I don’t think Sakic will do the same, even though I’d like to see him stick it out for a few more seasons. If only just to surpass Yzerman’s point total so we can finally brag that the Avs had the most prolific 19 in the history of the NHL.
The strangest thing is, and I’m not really sure why, even though Sakic has obviously been the face of this franchise, is a sure fire first ballot HoFer, is probably one of the top 20 players ever to play the game, is also probably the best clutch playoff skater of all-time, and is 100% class, for some reason Forsberg has always been the fan favorite here. I’m guilty as well, with a few Forsberg jerseys but not Super Joe’s. It has something to do with the wow factor, I’m sure. Forsberg is one of the few players in the game who, at least at one time, just created an audible buzz every time he was on the ice. Which, for this series, was one fucking game.
Oh well, just another random thought. Super Joe will be missed dearly. I’m thinking he has one more year in him. I don’t think he’ll want to retire this way, especially after the injuries this year.
For what it’s worth, 19 is a workout maniac both during the season and in the off-season. A Hernia operation that kept him off his feet was a first for him. He’s not going to resign the day after the Avs are out of the playoffs like last year. However, I think he will be back.
I’m blocked from the Fan House at work, but apparently I’m not the only nitwit with such thoughts today
Oh great, now I’m nervous about two things tonight
But great article.
It’s no secret that I am no big Sakic fan, but I’m not going to try to piss in your Cheerios. I’m just hoping Avs fans will look at Sakic’s retirement like ripping off a Band-Aid than some big tragedy. The team has stagnated the last several years, and I think it’s time the team and Sakic turned the page.
I hope he stays with the organization in some capacity, and I certainly expect that he will. Hell, why not fire Granato tonight and replace him with Sakic? Maybe that would spark the PP next year.
I actually don’t see Sakic retiring this year, for some reason I think he’ll give it one more season. I think the Vancouver Olympics calls him, and I would think he feels like he should play one more year with Smytty since he recruited him here last summer.
But i’ll be tuning in just in case.
Thanks for not taking a dump on this, Thomas.
I for one am not the Forsberg fan over Sakic. I have the Sakic jersey and not the Foppa. I am also optimistic that Joe will want to come back and see if he can improve over this season. He had a great yeas a season ago, and who knows how this one would have gone if not for the injury. Having been on the verge of retirement from professional sports once, I can tell you that you want to come back after an injury and prove your self. But you can also tell when your body is giving up on you and it is time to hang it up. I hope this is not the year for Joe….