ADAMS: Sakic working on his golf game, still has one skate on ice

By Sam Adams, Rocky Mountain News (Contact)

Published July 11, 2008 at 12:05 a.m.

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Conrad Buedel / Tahoecelebritygolf.Com

Joe Sakic, who is playing this week in the American Celebrity Golf Championship at Lake Tahoe, is still mulling over whether or not to return to the Avalanche for a 20th season in the NHL.

The sports books here list Joe Sakic at 30-to-1 to win the American Century Celebrity Golf Championship.

The odds of Sakic returning to the Avalanche to play his 20th season in the NHL? Still 50-50.

Fans and media, not to mention the Avalanche organization, have been anxiously awaiting a career decision from Sakic since the club was eliminated from the Stanley Cup playoffs by the Detroit Red Wings on May 1.

After Sakic and I made a 572-yard walk together up the 18th fairway at Edgewood Tahoe Golf Course on Thursday, he didn't have an answer for me.

"I wish I had an answer to give. At the end of the day, it's how I feel, if I want to do another year or not," the Avalanche captain said during his round of play in the celebrity tourney.

Though there's a galaxy of stars, past and present, in the celebrity tournament field, Sakic doesn't plan to initiate contact with them to discuss his decision. But he has already spoken with one well-known Hall of Famer.

Last month, Sakic played a round of golf with former Broncos great John Elway, and the two spoke about the decision-making process of whether to play on.

"We talked a little bit, and John said the last inch is the toughest," Sakic said. "His situation was, he knew it was time (to retire) and it was right for him.

"And it's the same for me - do what you feel is best. My body feels good. I'm not injured."

Green Bay Packers quarterback Brett Favre, who retired in March, was supposed to compete in the American Century Celebrity Golf Championship this weekend. His likeness appears on advertisements around town, but Favre pulled out of the event. Just as he is rumored to be considering pulling out of his decision to retire.

Sakic pointed to Favre's situation as one reason he is being deliberate about his own decision.

"That's the biggest thing for me - when I make my decision, it's my decision," Sakic said. "I don't want to waver. If you announce something, make a decision one way or the other and then change your mind . . . it's not really fair.

"I wanted to know by now. I wanted to know in June. I'd like to know for sure before training camp. I'm not going to want to miss training camp and come back later in the year. If I'm playing, I'm playing the whole year. I'm going to training camp and be a part of the team."

Elway knows where Favre has been and how tough it is for Sakic to determine where to go.

"I understand where Brett's coming from because, as a player, you never want to hang it up," said Elway, who announced his retirement from the NFL on May 2, 1999. "It's always hard to make that final step, to cross that line."

For the record, Sakic, who turned 39 on Monday, hasn't ballooned in weight. He has been working out. Technically, Sakic is an unrestricted free agent, but if the eighth-leading scorer in NHL history does play the 2008-09 season, it will be for the Avalanche.

Last season, Sakic produced career lows in goals scored (13), assists (27) and points (40) during an injury-shortened season.

I came here believing Sakic would call it a career. But being around him briefly Thursday, and hearing him use the term "we" several times, it sounded as if Sakic has more than a Favre-like itch to return.

"Camp is not until Sept. 18, so I still have a little time to figure it out," he said. "I've talked to (Avalanche general manager) Francois (Giguere) a couple of times, and we're all good.

"Now it's weighing the options. I just want to make sure the decision is 100 percent and you don't go back on it. The good thing is, I still have two months.

"Hopefully, I'm sure (of the decision) before that. You've got to start training, working out harder and see if you're ready to go for another year."

In the meantime, Sakic is working on his golf game. And his annual celebrity tournament benefiting Food Bank of the Rockies is next month. Sakic could have a decision to announce by then.

He is also keeping an eye on the Avalanche's offseason personnel transactions.

"I like the pickups," Sakic said. "Andrew Raycroft can be a great addition. Darcy Tucker is the type of player that we need. He can score goals. I like the moves."

Sakic can't help dropping the word "we." He is the consummate team player. But this is one instance where he needs to think "me" first.

• July 11, 2008

  1:56 a.m.

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  SE7EN writes:

  Joe needs to make a decision already. As much as I'd love to have him come back, how many years will he give us? 1-2 at the most? The Avs should have assumed that he's not coming back and signed a couple of top tier free agents. Now that they're waiting around for Joe to make up his mind, the good free agents are already signed.

• July 11, 2008

  2:40 a.m.

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  carmela_avs writes:

  I think Capt. Joe is an important part of the team. It would boost the morale of the team if he comes back.. Which I'm hoping he would do.. Please come back!!! I agree that he would just play for 1, 2 season tops, which should be enough time to groom the next captain of the Avs.

• July 11, 2008

  4:41 a.m.

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  BonBon writes:

  I'm glad Joe hasn't rushed his decision cause he may have decided to hang them up if pushed by the Avs org. and I'm glad that he's been talking it over with others who've been in the same situation and can give him some good advice. The tone of the article is hopeful that he'll return since he knows that he will want to attend training camp. I hope he gets the itch to play in the next month or so cause, of course, I want him to come back and play for another year. We love you Joe!

• July 11, 2008

  8:40 a.m.

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  maverick7 writes:

  I agree with se7en, the wait has produced no big name free agents becasue of Super Joe's non-decision. The Avs have some good $ to spend, they actually could have made a run at Hossa or someone like him. Hossa now is on the Red Wings, like they needed him.
  Unless something strang happens this year, the Avs will be struggling to get into the playoffs...again. I of course want Joe to come back, he is the heart of the Avs, he also needs to have a healthy year where he can groom the next captain.

• July 11, 2008

  11:33 a.m.

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  Who_Me writes:

  Time to make brown stuff or get off the pot.

• July 11, 2008

  1:54 p.m.

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  Mike1969 writes:

  Please do not include any thought or comments that old Smellway has on the Avalanche or anything else. He is old and quit because he was no longer able to play. Which in NOT the case with Sakic, (and probably not with Favre either.) My point is that no one cares what the washed up old guy thinks, let him go to Crush games, or play golf, or do whatever old guys do, but that is not news. His thoughts are irrelevant as is he!

  Two Positive things game out of this story in between all the Elway nonsense.

  1. This is encouraging: Sakic “And it's the same for me - do what you feel is best. My body feels good. I'm not injured."

  2. If/When he does play there will be none of that ½ season crap "I wanted to know by now. I wanted to know in June. I'd like to know for sure before training camp. I'm not going to want to miss training camp and come back later in the year. If I'm playing, I'm playing the whole year. I'm going to training camp and be a part of the team."

  3. As previously pointed out you gotta like that he said WE: “Darcy Tucker is the type of player that WE need. He can score goals. I like the moves."

• July 11, 2008

  9:57 p.m.

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  GJrodburner writes:

  Give this man all the room he needs to make a decision as big as retirement from the game he has given so much too! What the Aves lacked in signing from the FA group, they can pick up at the trading deadline if need be. I wouldn't hold my breath on Hossa, he's never been found to like real "ice-work" and in Detroit, he'll have to do it. Yeah, the Aves will struggle right along with Calgary, Vancouver, Minnesota, and Edmonton to get back to the play-offs because the entire Western Conference is that freakin' tough to get into the play-offs never mind making it out of the West to play for the Cup, let alone make it as the division winner from the NW! There are no gimmes in the NW, and winning it will take the talents of Joe Sakic; whether we have him for one or two more seasons, his skill and passing ability will be just as important as his shooting to put the Aves into the play-offs next season. If you really have a gripe, should have been about FG and his lack of scouting for more NA talent and for a better coach than that of Tony Granato. Treat your best like the best, and so far that is being done more by the Aves front office than by the current group of fans.

• July 11, 2008

  10:33 p.m.

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  maithoughts writes:

  HEY Mike1969 Darcy only scored 18 goals last year and 16 assists. Usually second rate players know how to dish the puck.

• July 12, 2008

  2:13 p.m.

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  mmmark217 writes:

  Let me just say I'd love to see Joe come back for another year or two. But if he doesn't, the Av's are in big trouble. The playoffs last year show just how far they need to go. While I like Hensick and Jones, the Av's are nowhere near the top echelon of teams in the NHL right now. For as good as they looked against the Wild, they looked slow and out of position against the Dread Wings. They need an overhaul in the worst way. Oh and By the way, those of you who have bemoaning the picking up of Raycroft must have no idea what a strong goalie is. Raycroft, last year was on a terrible team and had an off year, but his numbers are still strong overall. And he's only 28. My guess is he replaces Budaj as the starter within the first month of the season.

• July 12, 2008

  7:03 p.m.

  Suggest removal

  GJrodburner writes:

  Mark217: I don't know if Raycroft can waite until a month into the season in order to replace Budaj, it may actually occur out of training camp! The 'wings loss was bad, no way around it, but please remember this: you can't win with plow-horses come play-off time. We had injuries out the wazoo! Would the outcome have been any different had all of those injured players been available...in my opinion, yes. I know of the Toledo that goes with making that type of statement, but I also know that the Aves would have been able to line-up better in certain situations than what did occur. Water under the bridge. When you are slow and out of position on the ice during the game it must be remebered that can also be attributed to not having a great deal of ice time to work through those mishmashes of lines that the Aves had no choice but to send out in the 'roit series. If Joe can put one more season together I look for the team (if Granato doesn't screw it up! That's the real ticking bomb; not Joe's possible pending retirement.) to make it to the WCF. I'm going to stand by that until proven otherwise.

• July 13, 2008

  7:16 a.m.

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  mmmark217 writes:

  I hope you're right about the WCF GJ, but I'm not that optimistic.

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