Avalanche Sakic Retires – New Blood Joining the Team

Colorado Avalanche’s captain Joe Sakic announced his retirement last July of this year, making Adam Foote the newly named captain of the team. The retirement was finalized on July, and the future games of the Avalanche will obviously be bereft of Number 19, “Super Joe”. The 2008-2009 seasons proved to be strenuous for the now retired leader because of back injuries requiring a surgery to patch up a herniated disk, eventually leading to his retirement. Still, Sakic left the game as one of NHL’s career scoring, being 14th in goals (625), 11th in assists (1,016) and eighth in points (1,641). The Avalanche is now in the process of rebuilding as they try to spring back from an unfortunate season, losing 12 of their last 16 games and ranking last in the Western Conference. The conclusion of the miserable year resulted to a cleanup of the crew, eventually parting ways with general manager Francois Giguere and coach Tony Granato with Greg Sherman and Joe Sacco placed in control. “We’re going to try to get this organization and team back to the level of play that’s expected of it.” said Sacco. Refashioning the team included taking center Matt Duchene, signing in veteran goalie Craig Anderson and trading Ryan Smyth to the Los Angeles Kings for defense men Tom Preissing and Kyle Quincey. The team starts training camp on Sunday. “I think our players have a lot to prove. It’s a fresh start for a lot of players, fresh start for the coaches, a fresh start for the organization.” Sacco expressed. Adam Foote replaces Sakic, commenting that there are definitely big shoes to fill. Foote is on his 18th season and played alongside Sakic for a long time. “…we’re going to take his professionalism and what we have learned off him and keep that alive in this room,” he commented. “That’s one thing we want to make sure stays here.” Sakic’s number is the third to retire in Colorado Avalanche history along with 77, Ray Bourque and Patrick Roy, 33. With Sakic gone, the team is only more concentrated in rebounding over last year’s frustrating season. The teams center, Paul Stasny comments that “It’s a good time to be back,” as the player suffered from injuries, losing him almost half the season. Stasny is now formally the team’s top center. Adding to the Avalanche roster is the third pick in overall draft, Matt Duchene of the Ontario League’s Brampton Batallion. “He impressed me. He’s a lot bigger than I thought. He sees the game so well; obviously that’s one of his attributes Stasny commented on Duchene. “To have a goal-scorer like him bodes well for the future.” “I think we have the potential to surprise teams. We have a nothing-to-lose attitude” said Stasny. With the team’s restructuring, the younger generations of the Avalanche are expected to turn out well.