Joseph Steven Sakic ' onMouseout='HidePop("473")' href="http://www.absoluteastronomy.com/topics/British_Columbia">British Columbia
British Columbia is the westernmost of Canada's provinces and is famed for its natural beauty, as reflected in its Latin motto, Splendor sine occasu . In 1871, it became the sixth province of Canada.The capital of British Columbia is Victoria, the 15th largest metropolitan region in Canada...
) is a retired
CanadianCanada is a country occupying most of northern North America, extending from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
professional
ice hockeyIce Hockey is a team sport played on ice, in which skaters use sticks to direct a puck into the opposing team's goal. It is a fast-paced and physical sport...
player. He played his entire
National Hockey LeagueThe National Hockey League is an unincorporated not-for-profit association which operates a major professional ice hockey league as a joint venture for its self perpetuating membership of 30 franchised member clubs located in the United States and Canada...
career with the
Quebec NordiquesThe Quebec Nordiques were a professional ice hockey team based in Quebec City, Quebec, Canada. The Nordiques played in the World Hockey Association and the National Hockey League...
/
Colorado AvalancheThe Colorado Avalanche are a professional ice hockey team based in Denver, Colorado, United States. They are members of the Northwest Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League . The Avalanche have won the Stanley Cup twice, in 1996 and 2001. The franchise was founded in...
franchise. In his 20-year tenure, Sakic won the
Stanley CupThe Stanley Cup is an ice hockey club cup trophy, awarded annually to the National Hockey League playoffs champion. It has been referred to as The Cup, The Holy Grail, or facetiously as Lord Stanley's Mug...
twice, various NHL trophies, and was voted into 13 NHL All-Star Games. Named
captainIn ice hockey, each team can designate an official captain for each game. The player serving as captain during the game wears a "C" on his or her jersey.-Responsibilities and importance:...
of the team in 1992 (after serving as a co-captain in
1990-91The 1990–91 NHL season was the 74th season of the National Hockey League. Twenty-one teams each played 80 games. The Stanley Cup winners were the Pittsburgh Penguins, who won the best of seven series 4–2 against the Minnesota North Stars. The North Stars defeated the Edmonton Oilers to become the...
), he is regarded as one of the greatest players of all time, as well as one of the strongest team leaders in the league's history, and was able to motivate his team throughout his career to play at a winning level.
Over the course of his career, Sakic was one of the most productive forwards in the game, having twice scored 50 goals and earning at least 100 points in six different seasons. His wrist shot, considered one of the best in the NHL, was the source of much of his production as goalies around the league feared this shot. At the conclusion of the
2008–09 NHL seasonThe 2008–09 NHL season was the 91st season of the National Hockey League. It was the first season since prior to the 2004–05 lockout in which every team played each other at least once during the season, following three seasons where teams only played against two divisions in the other conference ...
, he was the 8th all-time points leader in the NHL, as well as 14th in all-time goals and 11th in all-time assists. During the
2002 Winter OlympicsThe 2002 Winter Olympics, officially known as the XIX Olympic Winter Games were a winter multi-sport event which was celebrated in February 2002 in and around Salt Lake City, Utah, United States...
, Sakic helped lead Team Canada to its first gold medal in 50 years, and was voted as the tournament's most valuable player. He has represented the team in six other international competitions, including the
1998Canada competed at the 1998 Winter Olympics in Nagano, Japan. Canada has competed at every Winter Olympic Games.Canada's biggest story at these games was the failure of the men's ice hockey team to win gold. For the first time, Canada's best players were able to compete at the Olympics, so...
and
2006Canada competed at the 2006 Winter Olympics in Turin, Italy, with a team of 196 athletes and 220 support staff.As host of the upcoming 2010 Winter Olympics, Canada was pressured to do well at the 2006 Games...
Winter Olympics. After the 2000–01 NHL season, Sakic was named the MVP of the NHL by the
hockey writersThe Hart Memorial Trophy, originally known as the Hart Trophy, the "oldest and most prestigious individual award in hockey", is awarded annually to the "player adjudged most valuable to his team" in the National Hockey League. The Hart Memorial Trophy has been awarded 84 times to 51...
and his
fellow playersThe Lester B. Pearson Award is awarded annually to the National Hockey League's most outstanding player in the regular season as judged by the members of the NHL Players Association. The Lester B. Pearson Award has been awarded 38 times to 22 different players since its beginnings in 1971...
. He retired from the NHL on July 9, 2009 and had his jersey number retired prior to Avalanche's
2009–10 seasonThe 2009–10 NHL season is the 92nd season of the National Hockey League and the 100th season since the founding of the predecessor National Hockey Association . It will run from October 1, 2009—including four games in Europe on October 2 and 3—until April 12, 2010, with the Stanley Cup playoffs to...
opener on October 1, 2009 in the
Pepsi CenterPepsi Center is a multi-purpose arena in Denver, Colorado, United States. The building is home to the Colorado Avalanche of the National Hockey League, the Denver Nuggets of the National Basketball Association, and the Colorado Mammoth of the National Lacrosse League...
.
Early life
Sakic was born in Burnaby to Marijan and Slavica Sakic (originally Šakić, ), immigrants from
CroatiaCroatia , officially the Republic of Croatia , is a country in southeast Europe, at the crossroads of the Pannonian Plain, the Balkans, and the Mediterranean Sea. Its capital is Zagreb...
. Growing up in Burnaby, he did not learn to speak
EnglishEnglish is a West Germanic language that developed in England during the Anglo-Saxon era. As a result of the military, economic, scientific, political, and cultural influence of the British Empire during the 18th, 19th, and early 20th centuries, and of the United States since the mid 20th century,...
well until
kindergartenis a form of education for young children which serves as a transition from home to the commencement of more formal schooling. Children are taught to develop basic skills through creative play and social interaction. In most countries kindergarten is part of the preschool system of early childhood...
, having been raised with
CroatianCroatian is a South Slavic language which is used primarily in Croatia, by Croats in Bosnia and Herzegovina, by Croatian minorities in some neighbouring countries, in the Italian region of Molise, and parts of the Croatian diaspora....
as his mother tongue. This language barrier would make him a demure, quiet individual later in life. Growing up as the child of immigrants, Sakic was instilled with a strong work ethic, a trait which would serve him well in his hockey career. At the age of four Sakic attended his first NHL game, a match between the
Vancouver CanucksThe Vancouver Canucks are a professional ice hockey team based in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. They are members of the Northwest Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League...
and
Atlanta FlamesThe Atlanta Flames were a professional ice hockey team based in Atlanta, Georgia, USA from 1972 to 1980. The team, a member of the National Hockey League , was relocated to Calgary, Alberta, Canada for the start of the 1980–81 NHL season and were re-named the Calgary Flames, leaving Atlanta without...
; after watching the game, Sakic decided that he wanted to become a hockey player. As a smaller player, he was forced to use skill rather than size to excel, and modeled himself after his idol,
Wayne GretzkyWayne Douglas Gretzky, CC is a retired Canadian professional ice hockey player. He is currently a part-owner of the Phoenix Coyotes of the National Hockey League...
. After showing exceptional promise as a young hockey player in Burnaby, Sakic was referenced as a new Wayne Gretzky in the making. He scored 83 goals and 156 points in only 80 games for Burnaby, and was added to the
Lethbridge BroncosThe Lethbridge Broncos were a junior ice hockey team in the Western Hockey League from 1974 until 1986. They played at the Lethbridge Sportsplex.-Season-by-season record:...
of the
Western Hockey LeagueThe Western Hockey League is a Major Junior ice hockey league based in Western Canada and the Pacific Northwest of the United States. The WHL is one of three leagues that constitute the Canadian Hockey League as the highest level of junior hockey in Canada...
for the last part of the 1985–86 season.
During the 1986–87 WHL season, the Broncos relocated to
Swift Current, SaskatchewanSwift Current is a small city in southwest Saskatchewan. It is situated along the Trans Canada Highway west from Moose Jaw, and east from Medicine Hat, Alberta...
, becoming the
Swift Current BroncosThe Swift Current Broncos are a junior ice hockey team in the Western Hockey League. Founded during 1967 in Swift Current, Saskatchewan, the Broncos played seven seasons before relocating to Lethbridge from 1974 to 1986 as the Lethbridge Broncos...
. Sakic, playing in his first full season, was named Rookie of the Year of the WHL. He notched 60 goals and 73 assists for 133 points. But while Sakic enjoyed success on the ice, he and his team faced a tragedy on the night of December 30, 1986. The Broncos were driving to a game against the
Regina PatsThe Regina Pats are a junior ice hockey team that plays in the Western Hockey League. The Pats are based out of Regina, Saskatchewan and the Brandt Centre is their home arena.-History:...
, and due to bad weather conditions, the bus crashed after the driver lost control on a patch of black ice outside of Swift Current. While Sakic was unharmed, four of his teammates (Trent Kresse, Scott Kruger, Chris Mantyka and Brent Ruff) were killed. This incident had a lasting impact on the young Sakic, who has declined to talk about the crash during his career. The next year, in 1987–88, Sakic was named the
WHL Most Valuable PlayerThe Four Broncos Memorial Trophy is awarded each year to the Western Hockey League's Player of the Year.The trophy is named in honour of four members of the Swift Current Broncos who died in an accident when the team bus was en route to a game...
and
Canadian Major Junior Player of the YearThe CHL Player of the Year award is given out annually to the player judged to be the most outstanding in the Canadian Hockey League. It is selected from the winners of the Red Tilson Trophy , Michel Briere Memorial Trophy , and the Four Broncos Memorial Trophy .-Winners:* 2008–09 Cody...
. He scored 160 points (78 goals, 82 assists), tying him with
Theoren FleuryTheoren Wallace "Theo" Fleury is a Canadian former professional ice hockey player for the Calgary Flames, Colorado Avalanche, New York Rangers and Chicago Blackhawks. He was drafted by the Flames in the 8th round, 166th overall, of the 1987 NHL Entry Draft. He played over 1000 games in the...
of the
Moose Jaw WarriorsThe Moose Jaw Warriors are a major junior ice hockey team of the Western Hockey League which are based out of Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan. The team plays its home games at the Moose Jaw Civic Centre. The franchise moved to Moose Jaw from Winnipeg after the 1984–85 season, where they had previously...
for the WHL scoring title.
Quebec Nordiques
Sakic was drafted 15th overall by the
Quebec NordiquesThe Quebec Nordiques were a professional ice hockey team based in Quebec City, Quebec, Canada. The Nordiques played in the World Hockey Association and the National Hockey League...
in the
1987 NHL Entry DraftThe 1987 NHL Entry Draft was held at Joe Louis Arena in Detroit, Michigan.- Selections by round :Below are listed the selections in the 1987 NHL Entry Draft.- Round one :- Round two :- Round three :- Round four :...
. Rather than make the immediate jump, he told the Nordiques management he would prefer to spend the 1987–88 season in Swift Current to prepare for the NHL. He made his NHL debut on October 6, 1988, against the
Hartford WhalersThe Hartford Whalers were a North American professional ice hockey team based in Hartford, Connecticut, U.S.. Known as the New England Whalers when they were members of the World Hockey Association from 1972–79, the club played in the National Hockey League from 1979–97...
and scored an assist. His first NHL goal came two days later against goaltender
Sean BurkeSean Burke is a former Canadian professional ice hockey goaltender.-Playing career:Sean Burke was drafted by the New Jersey Devils in the second round of the 1985 NHL Entry Draft. He earned national attention from his international play...
of the
New Jersey DevilsThe New Jersey Devils are a professional ice hockey team based in Newark, New Jersey. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League...
. During the season, he wore #88 because his preferred number, #19 was already taken by a teammate, Alain Côté. While considered a front-runner for the
Calder Memorial TrophyThe Calder Memorial Trophy is an annual award given "to the player selected as the most proficient in his first year of competition in the National Hockey League." The award has been awarded 72 times since its beginnings in 1937...
as rookie of the year due to his rapid scoring pace, an ankle injury that forced him to miss 10 games in December and resulting scoring slump helped quash any hopes of winning the award. He would finish his rookie season with 62 points in 70 games.
In 1989–90, his second NHL season, Sakic was able to switch his number back to his familiar #19 (Alain Côté had retired over the summer), and scored 102 points, which was ninth overall in the league. At the start of the next season, 1990–91, he was named co-captain along with
Steven FinnSteven Finn is a former professional ice hockey player who played 13 seasons in the National Hockey League from 1985–86 until 1996–97....
(Sakic was captain for home games, Finn for away games) and again passed the 100 point mark, improving to 109 points and sixth overall in the league, but would slip during 1991–92 to 94 points, partly as a result of missing eleven games. Early on in the season, Sakic showed some of his leadership qualities, even while
Mike HoughMichael Lloyd Hough is a former professional ice hockey player who played thirteen seasons in the National Hockey League from 1986–87 until 1998–99....
was serving as captain, as he stood firm in the
Eric LindrosEric Bryan Lindros is a former Canadian professional ice hockey player. He was the first overall pick in the 1991 NHL Entry Draft. He retired in November 2007, after playing the 2006–07 season with the Dallas Stars.-Personal life:...
holdout issue. With Lindros holding out against the Nordiques, who were one of the worst teams in league, Sakic commented, "We only want players here who have the passion to play the game. I'm tired of hearing that name. He's not here and there are a lot of others in this locker room who really care about the game." Lindros was traded a year later, ending the situation and bringing in a number of quality players, which vastly improved the Nordiques. During their first four seasons with Joe Sakic, the Nordiques finished last place in the
Adams DivisionThe NHL's Adams Division was formed in 1974 as part of the Prince of Wales Conference. The division existed for 19 seasons until 1993. It was named in honor of Charles Francis Adams, the founder of the Boston Bruins...
and last in the entire league for three straight years, from 1989 to 1991.
Starting with the 1992–93 NHL season, Sakic became the sole captain of the franchise. Under his leadership, the Nordiques made the playoffs for the first time in six years, and set a franchise record for wins and points in the process (since broken by the 2001 Colorado Avalanche team). Sakic reached the 100 point plateau, the third time he did so in five years, by scoring 48 goals and 105 points in the regular season, and added another 6 points in the playoffs. His production went down slightly to 92 points in 1993–94 as the Nordiques failed to make the playoffs again. After missing part of the 1994–95 season due to the players being locked out by owners, Sakic was 8 points behind
Jaromír JágrJaromír Jágr is a professional ice hockey right winger, who plays for Avangard Omsk in the Kontinental Hockey League. Jágr formerly played in the National Hockey League with the Pittsburgh Penguins, Washington Capitals, and most recently the New York Rangers...
for the scoring title with a fourth place finish, and helped the Nordiques win the division title, their first since the 1985-86 season.
Colorado Avalanche
In May 1995, the Quebec Nordiques announced that the team had been sold and were relocating from Quebec. Before the start of the 1995–96 NHL season, the franchise moved to
Denver, ColoradoThe City and County of Denver is the capital and the most populous city of the state of Colorado, in the United States. Denver is a consolidated city-county located in the South Platte River Valley on the High Plains just east of the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains...
and was renamed the
Colorado AvalancheThe Colorado Avalanche are a professional ice hockey team based in Denver, Colorado, United States. They are members of the Northwest Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League . The Avalanche have won the Stanley Cup twice, in 1996 and 2001. The franchise was founded in...
. Sakic led the team to its first
Stanley CupThe Stanley Cup is an ice hockey club cup trophy, awarded annually to the National Hockey League playoffs champion. It has been referred to as The Cup, The Holy Grail, or facetiously as Lord Stanley's Mug...
championship, scoring 120 points in 82 regular season games and 34 points in 22 playoff games. He was awarded the
Conn Smythe TrophyThe Conn Smythe Trophy is awarded annually to the player judged most valuable to his team during the National Hockey League's Stanley Cup playoffs. The Conn Smythe Trophy has been awarded 44 times to 38 players since the 1964–65 NHL season...
as the Most Valuable Player of the 1996 NHL playoffs. During the run for the cup, Sakic again proved himself to be an effective team leader. Although he had missed the playoffs in five of his first seven years in the NHL, and lacked any postseason experience, he scored 18 goals, including six game-winners, and 34 points. He was one goal off from the record for goals in a playoff year, and his game-winning goals established a new record.
In the 1996–97 season, Sakic only played in 65 games due to a lacerated calf, yet still managed to score 74 points as the Avalanche earned their first President's Trophy and third straight division title. He had another great playoff season with 8 goals and 17 assists, and took the Avalanche all the way to the conference finals, where they eventually lost to the
Detroit Red WingsThe Detroit Red Wings is a professional ice hockey team based in Detroit, Michigan. They are members of the Central Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League , and are one of the Original Six teams of the NHL....
in six games. As a free agent during the summer of 1997, Sakic signed a three year, $21 million
offer sheetIn the National Hockey League, an offer sheet is a contract offered to a restricted free agent by a team other than the one for which he played during the prior season...
with the
New York RangersThe New York Rangers are a professional ice hockey team based in New York, New York, United States. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League...
as a restricted free agent. Under the collective bargaining agreement at the time, the Avalanche had one week to match the Rangers' offer or let go of Sakic. Colorado would match the offer, which instigated a salary raise for many NHL players.
Injuries would again limit Sakic's playing time in the 1997–98 season. While playing in his first Olympics with Team Canada, Sakic hurt his knee and was forced to miss eighteen games with the Avalanche. In the sixty-four games he did play in, he still scored 63 points, enough to earn him his seventh All-Star appearance. He finally rebounded from his injury problems in the 1998–99 season, finishing fifth in the league in scoring with 41 goals and 96 points in only 73 games. He led the Avalanche all the way to within one game of the Stanley Cup finals, where they lost to the eventual Stanley Cup winning Dallas Stars. After the season ended, Sakic was ranked number 94 on
The Hockey NewsThe Hockey News, commonly abbrieviated to THN, is a North American ice hockey magazine published by Transcontinental. The Hockey News was founded in 1947 by Ken McKenzie and Bill Côté, and has since been perhaps the most recognized hockey publication in North America...
list of the 100 Greatest Hockey Players.
During the 1999–2000 season, Sakic reached several career milestones. Injuries limited him to only 60 games, but he still managed to lead the team in scoring with 81 points. On December 27, 1999, against the
St. Louis BluesThe St. Louis Blues are a professional ice hockey team based in St. Louis, Missouri. They are members of the Central Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League . The team is named after the famous W. C. Handy song "St. Louis Blues," and plays in the 19,150-seat Scottrade...
, Sakic earned an assist to become the 56th player in NHL history to reach 1,000 career points. Later in the season, on March 23, 2000, he scored a hat trick against the
Phoenix CoyotesThe Phoenix Coyotes are a professional ice hockey team currently based in Glendale, Arizona, just outside of Phoenix. They are members of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League...
, and became the 59th player to score 400 career goals. It also gave him 1,049 points with the Quebec/Colorado franchise, passing
Peter StastnyPeter "The Great, Stosh" Šťastný is a retired Slovak-Canadian professional ice hockey player who played in the National Hockey League from 1980 to 1995. During his time with the Quebec Nordiques, Stastny became a Canadian citizen. Since 2004, he has also served as a Member of the European...
as the all-time leader on the team. Sakic eclipsed the 100 point mark again in 2000–01, finishing with 118 along with a career best 54 goals. He led the Avalanche to their second Stanley Cup championship, and won the
Hart Memorial TrophyThe Hart Memorial Trophy, originally known as the Hart Trophy, the "oldest and most prestigious individual award in hockey", is awarded annually to the "player adjudged most valuable to his team" in the National Hockey League. The Hart Memorial Trophy has been awarded 84 times to 51...
, the
Lady Byng Memorial TrophyThe Lady Byng Memorial Trophy, formerly known as the Lady Byng Trophy, is presented each year to the National Hockey League "player adjudged to have exhibited the best type of sportsmanship and gentlemanly conduct combined with a high standard of playing ability". The Lady Byng Memorial Trophy has...
and the
Lester B. Pearson AwardThe Lester B. Pearson Award is awarded annually to the National Hockey League's most outstanding player in the regular season as judged by the members of the NHL Players Association. The Lester B. Pearson Award has been awarded 38 times to 22 different players since its beginnings in 1971...
. After the Avalanche defeated the
New Jersey DevilsThe New Jersey Devils are a professional ice hockey team based in Newark, New Jersey. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League...
in the 2001 finals in seven games, Sakic received the cup first as the captain. But instead of hoisting it high, he passed it straight to
Ray BourqueRaymond Jean Bourque is a Canadian retired professional ice hockey player and Hockey Hall of Famer who currently holds the records for most goals, assists and points by a defenceman in the National Hockey League , and has become near-synonymous with the Boston Bruins franchise, for which he played...
, a player who had waited a record-breaking twenty-two seasons to win the Stanley Cup. The 2001–02 season saw Sakic lead the Avalanche in scoring again, finishing sixth in the league with seventy-nine points. On March 9, 2002, he played in his 1,000th career game. The Avalanche once again reached the Western Conference Finals, but lost to the eventual Cup winning
Detroit Red WingsThe Detroit Red Wings is a professional ice hockey team based in Detroit, Michigan. They are members of the Central Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League , and are one of the Original Six teams of the NHL....
. The following year Sakic appeared in only 58 games, and finished with just 58 points, the lowest total of his career. He rebounded the following year, finishing third in the league with 87 points. It also marked the first time since the 1993–94 season that his team did not win the division title, which was won by the
Vancouver CanucksThe Vancouver Canucks are a professional ice hockey team based in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. They are members of the Northwest Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League...
.
Following the 2004–05 NHL lockout, the Avalanche were forced to lose many of their key players in order to stay below the salary cap. Even with the loss of teammates
Peter Forsbergis a Swedish professional ice hockey centre, currently playing for Modo Hockey in Elitserien.His 19-year professional career includes 13 years in the National Hockey League , where he won two Stanley Cups and numerous individual honors. Internationally, with the Swedish national team, he won two...
and
Adam FooteAdam Foote is a Canadian professional ice hockey defenceman and team captain of the Colorado Avalanche of the National Hockey League . He is best known for his physical presence and gritty play as a stay-at-home defenceman....
, Sakic still helped the Avalanche get into the playoffs, where they eventually lost to the
Anaheim DucksThe Anaheim Ducks are a professional ice hockey team based in Anaheim, California, USA. They are members of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League...
in the conference semifinals. In June 2006, Sakic signed a one-year, $5.75 million deal to keep him with the Avalanche for the 2006–07 season. Upon the retirement of
Steve YzermanStephen Gregory "Steve" Yzerman is a Canadian-American member of the Hockey Hall of Fame who played his entire National Hockey League career with the Detroit Red Wings. He was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2009...
a month later, on July 3, 2006, Sakic became the league leader for most NHL career points scored among active players.
Sakic had another strong season in the 2006–07. He scored his 600th career goal on February 15, 2007, against the Calgary Flames, becoming the seventeenth player in history to reach the milestone and third that year. On the final day of the regular season, he scored his 100th point, reaching the milestone for the sixth time in his career. At the same time, Sakic became the second-oldest NHL player to score 100 points in a season at age 37, alongside hockey legend
Gordie HoweGordon "Gordie" Howe, OC is a retired professional ice hockey player from Canada who played for the Detroit Red Wings and Hartford Whalers of the National Hockey League , and the Houston Aeros and New England Whalers in the World Hockey Association . Howe is often referred to as Mr...
. Despite his efforts as well as a late season charge, Sakic and the Avalanche missed the playoffs for the first time in eleven years, finishing one point behind the eighth placed Calgary Flames.
In April 2007, Sakic signed on for a 19th NHL season with the Colorado Avalanche, signing a one-year deal for the 2007–08 season. Sakic commented on the deal, saying "at this stage in my career, I prefer to do one-year deals as I evaluate my play year-to-year." Upon signing Sakic to the deal, Avalanche General Manager
François GiguèreFrançois C.H. Giguère was the former general manager and executive vice president of the Colorado Avalanche. He was promoted on May 24, 2006...
said, "Joe is the heart of this organization and his leadership and value to this team and especially our young players is unquestioned." On May 1, the NHL announced that Sakic was named as one of the three finalists of the Lady Byng Trophy, but it was eventually awarded to
Pavel DatsyukPavel Valerievich Datsyuk is a Russian professional ice hockey player and alternate captain of the Detroit Red Wings of the National Hockey League. He is known for his stick-handling and is considered one of the best two-way forwards in the game today, having won the Frank J. Selke Trophy in the...
of the Detroit Red Wings. On October 7, 2007, he scored a goal and had an assist against the
San Jose SharksThe San Jose Sharks are a professional ice hockey team based in San Jose, California, United States. They are members of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League...
, moving past
Phil EspositoPhilip Anthony "Espo" Esposito, OC is a retired professional hockey centre who played 18 seasons in the National Hockey League for the Chicago Black Hawks, Boston Bruins and New York Rangers...
into eighth place on the NHL career points list with 1,591. Nineteen days later, Sakic scored a goal and assisted
Ryan SmythRyan Alexander Gordon Smyth is a Canadian professional ice hockey player who currently plays for the Los Angeles Kings of the National Hockey League...
for an overtime game-winning goal against the Calgary Flames, reaching his 1,600th point in the NHL. On December 27, 2007, it was announced that Sakic underwent
herniaA hernia is protrusion of an organ or the muscular wall of an organ through the cavity that normally contains it. A hiatal hernia occurs when the stomach protrudes upwards into the mediastinum through the esophageal opening in the diaphragm.-Pathophysiology:...
surgerySurgery is a medical specialty that uses operative manual and instrumental techniques on a patient to investigate and/or treat a pathological condition such as disease or injury, to help improve bodily function or appearance, or sometimes for some other reason...
to accelerate the recovery of an injury that had forced him to miss the previous 12 games after a 232 consecutive games played streak. The operation caused him to miss a career high 38 games. He was activated off of the injured reserve on February 24, and played that night, scoring an assist. On March 22, 2008, Sakic recorded his 1000th career assist against the Edmonton Oilers, becoming the 11th player in NHL history to reach this milestone. On June 21, 2008, Sakic had a talk with Colorado
General ManagerGeneral manager is a descriptive term for certain executives in a business operation. It is also a formal title held by some business executives, most commonly in the hospitality industry.-Generic usage:...
,
François GiguèreFrançois C.H. Giguère was the former general manager and executive vice president of the Colorado Avalanche. He was promoted on May 24, 2006...
, and said that he is uncertain with his future with the Colorado Avalanche. However, it was announced on August 27, 2008, that Sakic decided to sign a one-year contract with the team. Injuries limited Sakic's playing time in
2008–09The 2008–09 NHL season was the 91st season of the National Hockey League. It was the first season since prior to the 2004–05 lockout in which every team played each other at least once during the season, following three seasons where teams only played against two divisions in the other conference ...
. A herniated disk in his back forced him to stop playing in early November, after playing in fifteen games, in which Sakic scored twelve points. While at home letting his back heal, Sakic broke three fingers in a snow-blower accident. He announced his retirement on July 9, 2009 The Avalanche retired his jersey, #19, prior to their
2009–10 seasonThe 2009–10 NHL season is the 92nd season of the National Hockey League and the 100th season since the founding of the predecessor National Hockey Association . It will run from October 1, 2009—including four games in Europe on October 2 and 3—until April 12, 2010, with the Stanley Cup playoffs to...
opener on October 1, 2009. Sakic was also named the inaugural member of the Avalanche Alumni Association.
All-Star games
Sakic was voted into the NHL All-Star Game thirteen times and played in twelve of them and was captain for two of them, the last in 2007. He had at least one point in eleven of them. The only one that he missed entirely was the
1997 All-Star gameThe 47th National Hockey League All-Star Game took place on January 18, 1997 at the San Jose Arena. The final score was Eastern Conference 11, Western Conference 7.- Super Skills Competition :...
, due to an injury. Sakic won the Most Valuable Player award in the
2004 All-Star gameThe 54th National Hockey League All-Star Game took place during the 2003–04 NHL season and was held on February 8, 2004, at the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul, Minnesota, official arena of the NHL's Minnesota Wild...
after scoring a
hat trickHat Trick, hat-trick or Hattrick may refer to:*hat-trick — in various sports, achieving three goals, wickets, etc. in a single match*Hattrick — online football management game*Hattrick Limited — producers of this game...
and leading the Western Conference to victory. He is the all-time assist leader in all-star games with 16 assists and is third place in all-time all-star scoring with 22 points, behind
Mario LemieuxMario Lemieux, CQ is a retired Canadian professional ice hockey player. He played 17 seasons as a forward for the Pittsburgh Penguins of the National Hockey League between 1984 and 2005...
(23 points) and
Wayne GretzkyWayne Douglas Gretzky, CC is a retired Canadian professional ice hockey player. He is currently a part-owner of the Phoenix Coyotes of the National Hockey League...
(25 points). His best record in an All-Star game was in
2007The 55th National Hockey League All-Star Game was held in Dallas, Texas on January 24, 2007. The Western Conference was victorious, defeating the Eastern Conference 12–9...
, when he scored four assists for the winning team; however the MVP award was given to Danny Brière, who had a goal and four assists.
International play
Sakic had an extensive international hockey career, representing Canada at seven international competitions. After being drafted by the Nordiques in 1987, he went on and helped Canada win the
1988 World Junior ChampionshipThe International Ice Hockey Federation World Under 20 Championship is an annual event organized by the International Ice Hockey Federation for national under-20 ice hockey teams from around the world...
. His next tournament was the
1991 World ChampionshipsThe Ice Hockey World Championship is an annual ice hockey tournament organized by the International Ice Hockey Federation . First officially held at the 1920 Summer Olympics, it is the sport's highest profile annual international tournament. The IIHF was created in 1908 while the European...
, where Canada won the silver medal and Sakic contributed eleven points in ten games. He tried out for the 1991 Canadian Canada Cup team, but was the first player to be cut, being cited for his weak leg strength. Sakic was bitter about the experience, feeling he was not given a good enough chance to prove himself, and called the whole experience "a complete waste of time."
Sakic's first successful professional tournament was the
1994 World ChampionshipsThe Ice Hockey World Championship is an annual ice hockey tournament organized by the International Ice Hockey Federation . First officially held at the 1920 Summer Olympics, it is the sport's highest profile annual international tournament. The IIHF was created in 1908 while the European...
, where Canada won its first gold medal in the tournament since 1961. Sakic's seven points in eight games were a crucial part of the team's success. During the
1996 World Cup of HockeyThe first World Cup of Hockey , or 1996 World Cup of Hockey, replaced the Canada Cup as one of the premier championships for professional ice hockey ....
, he played only a minor role in Canada's second place finish as he scored one goal and two assists in six games. However the tournament allowed him to showcase that he was indeed a dominant player who had simply been overlooked.
Sakic's first Olympic appearance came in
1998The 1998 Winter Olympics, officially known as the XVIII Olympic Winter Games, were a winter multi-sport event which was celebrated in 1998 in Nagano, Japan. These Games marked the return of the Winter Olympics to Japan since the 1972 Winter Olympics, when the games were held in Sapporo...
at Nagano,
Japanis an island country in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, People's Republic of China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
, after the event allowed NHL players to compete for the first time. Bothered by a knee injury, he only scored three points in four games, as the Canadian squad failed to meet expectations and finished in fourth. Sakic's second Olympic appearance came in the
2002 Winter OlympicsThe 2002 Winter Olympics, officially known as the XIX Olympic Winter Games were a winter multi-sport event which was celebrated in February 2002 in and around Salt Lake City, Utah, United States...
in Salt Lake City,
UtahUtah is a western state of the United States. It was the 45th state admitted to the Union, on January 4, 1896. Approximately 80 percent of Utah's 2,736,424 people live along the Wasatch Front, centering around Salt Lake City. In contrast, vast expanses of the state are nearly uninhabited, making...
. Led by his strong play, the Canadian team played their way to the gold medal match against Team USA, where Sakic had four points and helped the team win its first gold medal in 50 years. He was later named MVP of the tournament with a cumulative tally of four goals and six assists. Sakic also played a part in Canada's triumph in the
2004 World Cup of HockeyThe 2004 World Cup of Hockey was an international ice hockey tournament. It was the second installment of the National Hockey League -sanctioned competition eight years after the inaugural 1996 World Cup of Hockey. It was held from August 30 to September 14, 2004, and took place in various venues...
, where he scored six points in six games became one of the first Canadian members of the
Triple Gold ClubThe Triple Gold Club is a term used to describe ice hockey players who have won an Olympic Games gold medal, a World Championship gold medal, and the Stanley Cup, the championship trophy of the National Hockey League...
.
On December 21, 2005, Sakic was named captain of Team Canada for the
2006 Winter OlympicsThe 2006 Winter Olympics, officially known as the XX Olympic Winter Games, were a winter multi-sport event which was celebrated in Turin, Italy from February 10, 2006, through February 26, 2006. This marked the second time Italy hosted the Olympic Winter Games, the first being the VII Olympic...
in
TurinTurin is a major city as well as a business and cultural centre in northern Italy, capital of the Piedmont region, located mainly on the left bank of the Po River surrounded by the Alpine arch...
,
ItalyItaly , officially the Italian Republic , is a country located on the Italian Peninsula in Southern Europe and on the two largest islands in the Mediterranean Sea, Sicily and Sardinia. Italy shares its northern, Alpine boundary with France, Switzerland, Austria and Slovenia...
. Once again, Team Canada was heavily favored and given high expectations, but they failed to medal, finishing seventh overall. Sakic finished the tournament with three points.
Personal life
Sakic and his wife Debbie have three children: Mitchell and twins Chase and Kamryn. They met at a local high school while he was playing in Swift Current, and they frequently return to the town during the off-season. Sakic is an avid golfer, and competed in the celebrity Pro Am golf tournament in
Lake TahoeLake Tahoe is a large freshwater lake in the Sierra Nevada mountains of the United States. It is located along the border between California and Nevada, west of Carson City, Nevada. Lake Tahoe is the largest alpine lake in North America...
in the summer of 2006. Each summer, he also hosts his own charity golf tournament which benefits the Food Bank of the Rockies. His charity work, which is estimated to have provided more than 7 million meals to poor children and families, has earned an NHL Foundation Player Award in 2007.
In his hometown of Burnaby, Sakic was a fan favourite, and even has a street named "Joe Sakic Way" in his honour. Throughout
British ColumbiaBritish Columbia is the westernmost of Canada's provinces and is famed for its natural beauty, as reflected in its Latin motto, Splendor sine occasu . In 1871, it became the sixth province of Canada.The capital of British Columbia is Victoria, the 15th largest metropolitan region in Canada...
he is affectionately known as "Burnaby Joe"; in
ColoradoColorado is a U.S. state located in the Rocky Mountain region of the United States of America. It may also be considered to be part of the Western and Southwestern regions of the United States. Colorado entered statehood in 1876 and was nicknamed the “Centennial State”...
, he is known simply as "Super Joe". His younger brother
BrianBrian Sakic is a former professional ice hockey player.-Playing career:Sakic started his junior career with the Swift Current Broncos of the WHL. His brother, retired NHLer Joe Sakic, was also on the team...
joined the
Swift Current BroncosThe Swift Current Broncos are a junior ice hockey team in the Western Hockey League. Founded during 1967 in Swift Current, Saskatchewan, the Broncos played seven seasons before relocating to Lethbridge from 1974 to 1986 as the Lethbridge Broncos...
during Joe's final season with the team. He did, however, play for the
Flint GeneralsThe Flint Generals are a professional ice hockey team based in Flint, Michigan.They are a member of the International Hockey League and play their home games at Perani Arena and Event Center in Flint, Michigan....
of the
United Hockey LeagueThe International Hockey League is a low-level professional ice hockey league , with teams in the United States. The league is headquartered in Rochester, Michigan, and consists of seven teams. -History:...
.
Regular season and playoffs
| |
|
Regular season |
|
Playoff The playoffs, postseason, or finals of a sports league are a series of games played after the regular season by the top competitors, to determine the league champion or a similar accolade. The term and concept are most widespread in North America.In the U.S...
s |
| Season In an organized sports league, a season is the portion of one year in which regulated games of the sport are in session. For example, in Major League Baseball, one season lasts approximately from April 1st through October 1st; in European football , it is generally from August until May In an...
|
Team |
League |
GP |
G A goal in ice hockey provides a team with one point. Unlike in American football, where a touchdown is scored if any part of the football crosses any part of the goal line, in ice hockey the entire puck must completely cross the goal line for a goal to be awarded.-Method of scoring:The object of...
|
A In ice hockey, an assist is attributed to up to two players of the scoring team who shot, passed or deflected the puck towards the scoring teammate, or touched it in any other way which enabled the goal, meaning that they were "assisting" in the goal. There can be a maximum of two assists per goal...
|
Pts Point in ice hockey has three official meanings:* A point is awarded to a player who either scores a goal or earns an assist during a game. The total number of goals plus assists equals total points. In some European leagues, a goal counts as two points, and an assist counts as one...
|
PIMA penalty in ice hockey is a punishment for inappropriate behavior. Most penalties are enforced by detaining the offending player within a penalty box for a set number of minutes during which the player can not participate in play...
|
GP |
G |
A |
Pts |
PIM |
| 1985–86 |
Burnaby BC Selects |
BCAHA |
80 |
83 |
73 |
156 |
96 |
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
| 1985–86 |
Lethbridge Broncos The Lethbridge Broncos were a junior ice hockey team in the Western Hockey League from 1974 until 1986. They played at the Lethbridge Sportsplex.-Season-by-season record:...
|
WHLThe Western Hockey League is a Major Junior ice hockey league based in Western Canada and the Pacific Northwest of the United States. The WHL is one of three leagues that constitute the Canadian Hockey League as the highest level of junior hockey in Canada...
|
3 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
| 1986–87 |
Swift Current BroncosThe Swift Current Broncos are a junior ice hockey team in the Western Hockey League. Founded during 1967 in Swift Current, Saskatchewan, the Broncos played seven seasons before relocating to Lethbridge from 1974 to 1986 as the Lethbridge Broncos...
|
WHL |
72 |
60 |
73 |
133 |
31 |
4 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
| 1987–88 |
Swift Current Broncos |
WHL |
64 |
78 |
82 |
160 |
64 |
10 |
11 |
13 |
24 |
12 |
| 1988–89 |
Quebec NordiquesThe Quebec Nordiques were a professional ice hockey team based in Quebec City, Quebec, Canada. The Nordiques played in the World Hockey Association and the National Hockey League...
|
NHLThe National Hockey League is an unincorporated not-for-profit association which operates a major professional ice hockey league as a joint venture for its self perpetuating membership of 30 franchised member clubs located in the United States and Canada...
|
70 |
23 |
39 |
62 |
24 |
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
| 1989–90 |
Quebec Nordiques |
NHL |
80 |
39 |
63 |
102 |
64 |
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
| 1990–91 |
Quebec Nordiques |
NHL |
80 |
48 |
61 |
109 |
24 |
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
| 1991–92 |
Quebec Nordiques |
NHL |
69 |
29 |
65 |
94 |
20 |
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
| 1992–93 |
Quebec Nordiques |
NHL |
78 |
48 |
57 |
105 |
40 |
6 |
3 |
3 |
6 |
2 |
| 1993–94 |
Quebec Nordiques |
NHL |
84 |
28 |
64 |
92 |
18 |
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
| 1994–95 |
Quebec Nordiques |
NHL |
47 |
19 |
43 |
62 |
30 |
6 |
4 |
1 |
5 |
0 |
| 1995–96 |
Colorado AvalancheThe Colorado Avalanche are a professional ice hockey team based in Denver, Colorado, United States. They are members of the Northwest Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League . The Avalanche have won the Stanley Cup twice, in 1996 and 2001. The franchise was founded in...
|
NHL |
82 |
51 |
69 |
120 |
44 |
22 |
18 |
16 |
34 |
14 |
| 1996–97 |
Colorado Avalanche |
NHL |
65 |
22 |
52 |
74 |
34 |
17 |
8 |
17 |
25 |
14 |
| 1997–98 |
Colorado Avalanche |
NHL |
64 |
27 |
36 |
63 |
50 |
6 |
2 |
3 |
5 |
3 |
| 1998–99 |
Colorado Avalanche |
NHL |
73 |
41 |
55 |
96 |
29 |
19 |
6 |
13 |
19 |
8 |
| 1999–00 |
Colorado Avalanche |
NHL |
60 |
28 |
53 |
81 |
28 |
17 |
2 |
7 |
9 |
8 |
| 2000–01 |
Colorado Avalanche |
NHL |
82 |
54 |
64 |
118 |
30 |
21 |
13 |
13 |
26 |
6 |
| 2001–02 |
Colorado Avalanche |
NHL |
82 |
26 |
53 |
79 |
18 |
21 |
9 |
10 |
19 |
4 |
| 2002–03 |
Colorado Avalanche |
NHL |
58 |
26 |
32 |
58 |
24 |
7 |
6 |
3 |
9 |
2 |
| 2003–04 |
Colorado Avalanche |
NHL |
81 |
33 |
54 |
87 |
42 |
11 |
7 |
5 |
12 |
8 |
| 2005–06 |
Colorado Avalanche |
NHL |
82 |
32 |
55 |
87 |
60 |
9 |
4 |
5 |
9 |
6 |
| 2006–07 |
Colorado Avalanche |
NHL |
82 |
36 |
64 |
100 |
46 |
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
| 2007–08 |
Colorado Avalanche |
NHL |
44 |
13 |
27 |
40 |
20 |
10 |
2 |
8 |
10 |
0 |
2008–09The 2008–09 NHL season was the 91st season of the National Hockey League. It was the first season since prior to the 2004–05 lockout in which every team played each other at least once during the season, following three seasons where teams only played against two divisions in the other conference ...
|
Colorado Avalanche |
NHL |
15 |
2 |
10 |
12 |
6 |
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
| WHL totals | 139 | 138 | 155 | 293 | 95 | 14 | 11 | 14 | 25 | 12 |
|---|
| NHL totals |
1378 |
625 |
1016 |
1641 |
614 |
172 |
84 |
104 |
188 |
78 |
International
| Year |
Team |
Event |
|
GP |
G |
A |
P |
PIM |
| 1987 |
Canada |
- |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| 1988 The 1988 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships was the 12th edition of the World Junior Ice Hockey Championships and was held in Moscow, Soviet Union. Canada and the Soviet Union won the gold and silver medals respectively as the two nations redeemed themselves following their mutual...
|
Canada |
WJC The International Ice Hockey Federation World Under 20 Championship is an annual event organized by the International Ice Hockey Federation for national under-20 ice hockey teams from around the world...
|
7 |
3 |
1 |
4 |
2 |
| 1991 The 1991 Ice Hockey World Championships took place in Finland 19th April - 4th May. The games were played in Turku, Helsinki and Tampere. The main venue was Turkuhalli. Eight teams took part, with each team playing each other once. The four best teams then played each other once more...
|
Canada |
WCThe Ice Hockey World Championship is an annual ice hockey tournament organized by the International Ice Hockey Federation . First officially held at the 1920 Summer Olympics, it is the sport's highest profile annual international tournament. The IIHF was created in 1908 while the European...
|
10 |
6 |
5 |
11 |
0 |
| 1994 The 1994 Ice Hockey World Championships took place in Italy 25th April - 8th May. The games were played in Bolzano, Canazei and Milan.Twelve teams took part, with the first round being split into two groups of six, with the four best teams from each group advancing to the quarter finals...
|
Canada |
WC |
8 |
4 |
3 |
7 |
27 |
| 1996 The first World Cup of Hockey , or 1996 World Cup of Hockey, replaced the Canada Cup as one of the premier championships for professional ice hockey ....
|
Canada |
WCpThe World Cup of Hockey is an international ice hockey tournament. Inaugurated in 1996, it is the successor to the previous Canada Cup, which ran from 1976 to 1991. The tournament has occurred twice, with the United States winning in 1996 and Canada winning in 2004...
|
8 |
2 |
2 |
4 |
6 |
| 1998 -Men's tournament:1998 was the first year that the modern NHL took a break to allow its players to participate in the Olympics, allowing the United States and Canada to field teams with professionals of top calibre, as the European teams had been doing since the IIHF first allowed professionals...
|
Canada |
OlyThe 1998 Winter Olympics, officially known as the XVIII Olympic Winter Games, were a winter multi-sport event which was celebrated in 1998 in Nagano, Japan. These Games marked the return of the Winter Olympics to Japan since the 1972 Winter Olympics, when the games were held in Sapporo...
|
4 |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
| 2002 2002 Winter Olympic Games Ice hockey games were held at the E Center and Peaks Ice Arena in Salt Lake City and Provo, Utah. Both the men's and women's tournaments were won by Canada, defeating the host United States in both games.-Men:Source:...
|
Canada |
OlyThe 2002 Winter Olympics, officially known as the XIX Olympic Winter Games were a winter multi-sport event which was celebrated in February 2002 in and around Salt Lake City, Utah, United States...
|
6 |
4 |
3 |
7 |
0 |
| 2004 The 2004 World Cup of Hockey was an international ice hockey tournament. It was the second installment of the National Hockey League -sanctioned competition eight years after the inaugural 1996 World Cup of Hockey. It was held from August 30 to September 14, 2004, and took place in various venues...
|
Canada |
WCp |
6 |
4 |
2 |
6 |
2 |
| 2006 Ice hockey at the 2006 Winter Olympics was held at the Torino Palasport Olimpico and the Torino Esposizioni in Turin, Italy. The men's competition, held from 15 to 26 February, was won by Sweden, and the women's competition, held from 11 to 20 February, was won by Canada.-Men's competition:The...
|
Canada |
OlyThe 2006 Winter Olympics, officially known as the XX Olympic Winter Games, were a winter multi-sport event which was celebrated in Turin, Italy from February 10, 2006, through February 26, 2006. This marked the second time Italy hosted the Olympic Winter Games, the first being the VII Olympic...
|
6 |
1 |
2 |
3 |
0 |
| Junior int'l totals |
8 |
3 |
1 |
4 |
2 |
| Senior int'l totals |
48 |
22 |
19 |
41 |
39 |
All-Star games
| Year |
Location |
|
G |
A |
P |
1990The 41st National Hockey League All-Star Game was held in Civic Arena in Pittsburgh, home to the Pittsburgh Penguins, on January 21, 1990. The game saw the team of all-stars from the Wales conference defeat the Campbell conference all-stars 12–7...
|
PittsburghThe Pittsburgh Penguins are a professional ice hockey team based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League and are the defending Stanley Cup champions. The franchise was founded in 1967 as one of the first...
|
0 |
2 |
2 |
1991The 42nd National Hockey League All-Star Game took place in Chicago Stadium, home of the Chicago Blackhawks, on January 19, 1991.- Commissioner's Choice :...
|
Chicago The Chicago Blackhawks are a professional ice hockey team based in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the Central Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League . They have won three Stanley Cup Championships and thirteen division titles since their founding in 1926...
|
0 |
1 |
1 |
1992The 43rd NHL All-Star Game featured 16 goals as the Campbell Conference defeated the Wales Conference, 10–6. Brett Hull was named as the All-Star M.V.P...
|
PhiladelphiaThe Philadelphia Flyers are a professional ice hockey team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . Part of the 1967 NHL Expansion, the Flyers were the first non-Original Six to win the Stanley Cup,...
|
0 |
2 |
2 |
1993The 44th National Hockey League All-Star Game was the last All-Star game to take place at the Montreal Forum on February 6, 1993. Before the start of the game there was a tribute to Mario Lemieux, who was in attendance, but could not play due to his treatments for Hodgkin's Disease...
|
MontrealThe Montreal Canadiens are a professional ice hockey team based in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. The team is a member of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League...
|
0 |
3 |
3 |
1994The 45th National Hockey League All-Star Game was held in New York City, New York, on January 22, 1994.- Super Skills Competition :The Western Conference would win the Skills Competition for the second straight season...
|
New YorkThe New York Rangers are a professional ice hockey team based in New York, New York, United States. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League...
|
1 |
2 |
3 |
| 1996 The 46th Annual NHL All-Star Game took place at the FleetCenter in Boston, Massachusetts on January 20, 1996.- Super Skills Competition :The Western Conference would win their third-straight Skills Competition on a second round tie-breaking penalty shot goal...
|
BostonThe Boston Bruins are a professional ice hockey team based in Boston, Massachusetts. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . The team has been in existence since 1924, entering the league as the first United States-based expansion franchise...
|
0 |
0 |
0 |
| 1997 The 47th National Hockey League All-Star Game took place on January 18, 1997 at the San Jose Arena. The final score was Eastern Conference 11, Western Conference 7.- Super Skills Competition :...
|
San JoseThe San Jose Sharks are a professional ice hockey team based in San Jose, California, United States. They are members of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League...
|
- |
- |
- |
1998The 48th National Hockey League All-Star Game took place at General Motors Place in Vancouver, British Columbia, home to the Vancouver Canucks, on January 18, 1998.- The International Showdown :...
|
VancouverThe Vancouver Canucks are a professional ice hockey team based in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. They are members of the Northwest Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League...
|
0 |
2 |
2 |
2000The 50th National Hockey League All-Star Game was part of the 1999–2000 NHL season, and took place in Toronto's Air Canada Centre on February 6, 2000....
|
TorontoThe Toronto Maple Leafs are a professional ice hockey team based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League...
|
1 |
0 |
1 |
2001The 51st National Hockey League All-Star Game took place on February 4, 2001, at Pepsi Center in Denver, Colorado. The final score was North America 14, World 12.- Super Skills Competition :...
|
DenverThe Colorado Avalanche are a professional ice hockey team based in Denver, Colorado, United States. They are members of the Northwest Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League . The Avalanche have won the Stanley Cup twice, in 1996 and 2001. The franchise was founded in...
|
1 |
0 |
1 |
2002The 52nd National Hockey League All-Star Game took place on February 2, 2002, at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, California. The final score was World 8, North America 5. This was the last National Hockey League All-Star Game to have the North America vs...
|
Los AngelesThe Los Angeles Kings are a professional ice hockey team based in Los Angeles, California. They are members of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League...
|
0 |
0 |
0 |
2004The 54th National Hockey League All-Star Game took place during the 2003–04 NHL season and was held on February 8, 2004, at the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul, Minnesota, official arena of the NHL's Minnesota Wild...
|
St. PaulThe Minnesota Wild are a professional ice hockey team based in St. Paul, Minnesota, United States. They are members of the Northwest Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League ....
|
3 |
0 |
3 |
2007The 55th National Hockey League All-Star Game was held in Dallas, Texas on January 24, 2007. The Western Conference was victorious, defeating the Eastern Conference 12–9...
|
DallasThe Dallas Stars are a professional ice hockey team based in Dallas, Texas. They are members of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League . The team was founded in 1967 as the Minnesota North Stars, based in Bloomington, Minnesota. The franchise transferred to...
|
0 |
4 |
4 |
| All-Star totals |
6 |
16 |
22 |
Milestones
Sakic recorded his 1000th career point on December 27, 1999, against the
St. Louis BluesThe St. Louis Blues are a professional ice hockey team based in St. Louis, Missouri. They are members of the Central Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League . The team is named after the famous W. C. Handy song "St. Louis Blues," and plays in the 19,150-seat Scottrade...
. He became the eleventh player to reach 1500 points, doing so on October 25, 2006, with an assist against the
Washington CapitalsThe Washington Capitals are a professional ice hockey team based in Washington, D.C. They are members of the Southeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League...
, and the sixth to do so with one franchise.
Gordie HoweGordon "Gordie" Howe, OC is a retired professional ice hockey player from Canada who played for the Detroit Red Wings and Hartford Whalers of the National Hockey League , and the Houston Aeros and New England Whalers in the World Hockey Association . Howe is often referred to as Mr...
,
Wayne GretzkyWayne Douglas Gretzky, CC is a retired Canadian professional ice hockey player. He is currently a part-owner of the Phoenix Coyotes of the National Hockey League...
,
Mario LemieuxMario Lemieux, CQ is a retired Canadian professional ice hockey player. He played 17 seasons as a forward for the Pittsburgh Penguins of the National Hockey League between 1984 and 2005...
, Raymond Bourque and
Steve YzermanStephen Gregory "Steve" Yzerman is a Canadian-American member of the Hockey Hall of Fame who played his entire National Hockey League career with the Detroit Red Wings. He was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2009...
are the others who have achieved this feat. On March 22, 2008, Sakic notched his 1,000th career assist against the Edmonton Oilers on a second period goal scored by Tyler Arnason.
Sakic played his 1000th career game on March 9, 2002, against the
Los Angeles KingsThe Los Angeles Kings are a professional ice hockey team based in Los Angeles, California. They are members of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League...
. His 500th career goal came against the
Vancouver CanucksThe Vancouver Canucks are a professional ice hockey team based in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. They are members of the Northwest Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League...
on December 11, 2002. In a February 15, 2007, game against the
Calgary FlamesThe Calgary Flames are a professional hockey team based in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. They are members of the Northwest Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League . The club is the third major-professional ice hockey team to represent the city of Calgary, following the Calgary...
, Sakic scored his 600th career goal. He also earned his 900th assist, the sixteenth player to do so, against the Flames, in a game on March 12, 2006.
During the final game of the 2006–07 season, Sakic scored his 100th point of the year. This made him, at age 37, the second oldest player in NHL history, after Gordie Howe, to record 100 points in a regular season. He is the only captain in Colorado Avalanche history and became the longest active tenured captain in the league, with fifteen seasons leading the Nordiques/Avalanche franchise, after the retirement of Steve Yzerman at the conclusion of the 2005–06 regular season. On March 22, 2008, against the
Edmonton OilersThe Edmonton Oilers are a professional ice hockey team based in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. They are members of the Northwest Division in the Western Conference of the National Hockey League ....
, Sakic recorded the 1000th assist of his career, the 11th player to do so. The gloves he wore in the game were later sent to the
Hockey Hall of FameThe Hockey Hall of Fame is located in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Dedicated to the history of ice hockey, it is both a museum and a hall of fame. It holds exhibits about players, teams, National Hockey League records, memorabilia and NHL trophies, including the Stanley Cup...
.
Alongside
Bobby ClarkeRobert Earle Clarke, OC , better known as Bobby Clarke but referring to himself as Bob Clarke, is a retired Canadian professional ice hockey centre who played his entire National Hockey League career with the Philadelphia Flyers and is currently an Executive with the team...
,
Wayne GretzkyWayne Douglas Gretzky, CC is a retired Canadian professional ice hockey player. He is currently a part-owner of the Phoenix Coyotes of the National Hockey League...
and
Mark MessierMark John Douglas Messier is a retired Canadian professional ice hockey centre of the National Hockey League and current special assistant to the president and general manager of the New York Rangers. He spent a quarter of a century in the NHL with the Edmonton Oilers, New York Rangers, and...
, Sakic is one of four players to captain his team to a Stanley Cup championship and win the Hart Memorial Trophy in the same year. Sakic is also one of twenty-two members in the
Triple Gold ClubThe Triple Gold Club is a term used to describe ice hockey players who have won an Olympic Games gold medal, a World Championship gold medal, and the Stanley Cup, the championship trophy of the National Hockey League...
, a term used in ice hockey to describe players who have won an Olympic Gold medal, a World Championship Gold medal and the Stanley Cup.
Records
In his 19-year career with the Nordiques and Avalanche, Sakic has obtained nearly all of the franchise scoring records, including most all-time goals (625), assists (1016), and points (1641). He also holds the franchise record for most games played (1,363), and is on several notable NHL record lists:
Leadership
Throughout his career, Sakic was one of the top scorers in the league, but in his early years he was criticized for not leading his team to playoff success. While in Quebec, the Nordiques were one of the worst teams in the league, finishing last in their division five out of the seven years Sakic was with the team, including three straight years of being last overall in the league. After leading the Avalanche to the Stanley Cup in 1996 with his 34 points, Sakic began to be seen as a leader capable of winning, and he was seen as one of the league's premier players.
Though Sakic was a quiet individual, he was able to motivate his team to play at higher levels, which earned him the respect of his peers and executives. The first signs of Sakic's leadership began to show while still a member of the Swift Current Broncos of the WHL. After the bus crash that killed four of his teammates, Sakic was seen as the leader of the team, acknowledging that the experience changed his outlook on life. This was further proven during the summer of 1997 when the New York Rangers offered him a large contract, in order to replace captain
Mark MessierMark John Douglas Messier is a retired Canadian professional ice hockey centre of the National Hockey League and current special assistant to the president and general manager of the New York Rangers. He spent a quarter of a century in the NHL with the Edmonton Oilers, New York Rangers, and...
(who had left the team for the Vancouver Canucks), which under the rules of the NHL, the Avalanche were able to match.
One of the most defining actions of Sakic's career was at the conclusion of the 2001 playoffs. Defying the NHL tradition of the captain being the first to skate around with the Stanley Cup, Sakic passed it off to teammate
Ray BourqueRaymond Jean Bourque is a Canadian retired professional ice hockey player and Hockey Hall of Famer who currently holds the records for most goals, assists and points by a defenceman in the National Hockey League , and has become near-synonymous with the Boston Bruins franchise, for which he played...
. Bourque, one of the best defensemen to ever play, had been traded to the Avalanche the year before after spending 21 years with the
Boston BruinsThe Boston Bruins are a professional ice hockey team based in Boston, Massachusetts. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . The team has been in existence since 1924, entering the league as the first United States-based expansion franchise...
and setting the record for most games played without winning the Cup. Sakic's handing of the trophy to Bourque is seen as just another example of Sakic's leadership abilities and how he performs through actions rather than words.
WHL and CHL
| Award |
Year |
| CHL The Canadian Hockey League is an umbrella organization that represents the three Canadian-based Major Junior ice hockey leagues for players 16 to 20 years of age. The CHL was founded in 1975 as the Canadian Major Junior Hockey League, and is composed of its three member leagues, the Ontario Hockey...
Player of the Year |
1988 |
WHLThe Western Hockey League is a Major Junior ice hockey league based in Western Canada and the Pacific Northwest of the United States. The WHL is one of three leagues that constitute the Canadian Hockey League as the highest level of junior hockey in Canada...
East Second All-Star Team |
1987 |
| WHL East Player of the Year |
1987 |
| WHL East Jim Piggott Memorial Trophy The Jim Piggott Memorial Trophy is awarded annually to the top rookie in the Western Hockey League.The award is named after Jim Piggott who was the founder of the WHL's Saskatoon Blades, as well as one of the first presidents of the league.- Winners :...
(Rookie of the Year) |
1987 |
| WHL East First All-Star Team |
1988 |
| WHL Bob Clarke Trophy The Bob Clarke Trophy is awarded annually to the top scorer in the Western Hockey League.It is named after National Hockey League Hall of Famer Bobby Clarke who was one of the WHL's early stars...
(Leading Scorer) |
1988 |
| WHL Player of the Year |
1988 |
NHL
| Award |
Year(s) |
Stanley CupThe Stanley Cup is an ice hockey club cup trophy, awarded annually to the National Hockey League playoffs champion. It has been referred to as The Cup, The Holy Grail, or facetiously as Lord Stanley's Mug...
champion |
1996 The 1996 Stanley Cup Final NHL championship series was contested by two teams that had not existed three seasons before, the Colorado Avalanche and the Florida Panthers. The Avalanche won the Cup in a four game sweep to win the franchise's first Stanley Cup, in their first season in Denver since...
, 2001The 2001 Stanley Cup Final NHL championship series was contested by the defending champion New Jersey Devils and the Colorado Avalanche making the franchise's second Stanley Cup Final appearance, and first since the team won the 1996 Final. The Avalanche won the series in seven games, claiming...
|
Bud Light Plus/MinusThe NHL Plus-Minus Award is a trophy awarded annually by the National Hockey League to the ice hockey "player, having played a minimum of 60 games who leads the league in plus/minus statistics." It has been awarded 23 times to 20 different players. It is sponsored by a commercial business, and it...
Award (shared with Patrik EliášPatrik Eliáš is a Czech professional hockey left winger and alternate captain for the New Jersey Devils of the National Hockey League. He has garnered much popularity for his puck-handling ability and ability to strike from any place on the ice...
) |
2001 |
Conn Smythe TrophyThe Conn Smythe Trophy is awarded annually to the player judged most valuable to his team during the National Hockey League's Stanley Cup playoffs. The Conn Smythe Trophy has been awarded 44 times to 38 players since the 1964–65 NHL season...
|
1996 |
Hart Memorial TrophyThe Hart Memorial Trophy, originally known as the Hart Trophy, the "oldest and most prestigious individual award in hockey", is awarded annually to the "player adjudged most valuable to his team" in the National Hockey League. The Hart Memorial Trophy has been awarded 84 times to 51...
|
2001 |
Lady Byng Memorial TrophyThe Lady Byng Memorial Trophy, formerly known as the Lady Byng Trophy, is presented each year to the National Hockey League "player adjudged to have exhibited the best type of sportsmanship and gentlemanly conduct combined with a high standard of playing ability". The Lady Byng Memorial Trophy has...
|
2001 |
Lester B. Pearson AwardThe Lester B. Pearson Award is awarded annually to the National Hockey League's most outstanding player in the regular season as judged by the members of the NHL Players Association. The Lester B. Pearson Award has been awarded 38 times to 22 different players since its beginnings in 1971...
|
2001 |
| M.A.C. (Most Assists with Children) Award |
1998 |
| NHL All-Star Game MVP |
2004 |
| NHL First All-Star Team |
2001, 2002, 2004 |
| NHL/Sheraton Road Performer Award (most road points) |
2004 |
NHL Foundation Player AwardThe NHL Foundation Player Award is awarded annually to the National Hockey League player "who applies the core values of hockey—commitment, perseverance and teamwork—to enrich the lives of people in his community". The winner is given a grant of US$25,000 to help causes that the winner supports...
|
2007 |
International
| Award |
Year |
| Winter Olympic Games Ice Hockey Tournament Most Valuable Player |
2002 2002 Winter Olympic Games Ice hockey games were held at the E Center and Peaks Ice Arena in Salt Lake City and Provo, Utah. Both the men's and women's tournaments were won by Canada, defeating the host United States in both games.-Men:Source:...
|
| Winter Olympic Games Ice Hockey All-Star Team |
2002 |
- All awards taken from NHL.com
See also
External links