Joe Sakic
Joe Sakic
Joseph Steven Sakicis a Canadian professional ice hockey executive and former player. He played his entire 21-year National Hockey Leaguecareer with the Quebec Nordiques/Colorado Avalanche franchise. Named captain of the team in 1992, Sakic is regarded as one of the most capable team leaders in league history and was able to motivate his team to play at a winning level. Sakic led the Avalanche to Stanley Cup titles in 1996 and 2001, being named the most valuable player of the...
NationalityCanadian
ProfessionAthlete
Date of Birth7 July 1969
CountryCanada
There's six or eight teams that obviously spent a lot more than other teams to keep their players, so you definitely lose that. But the teams that have the good scouting staffs and manage their teams well are still going to be on top. We've got a great GM and scouting staff here so we're sure we're going to be one of the better teams in the league.
Definitely four years ago, you had the names and you went with them. Now some of those guys got older and a lot of young guys are coming in, and it is tougher for sure. But I'd like to think that's a good thing for Canada, you can't really go wrong. There's going to be great players left off the team.
Obviously, there's a number of teams, six to eight teams, that probably spent more than other teams to keep their players. So, yeah, you definitely lose that. But I think everybody is on the same playing field, and I think as the years go down, (there will be) issues and uncertainty for everybody. There's so much player movement.
I expect him, he's going to bounce back, especially with the new rules, and in Nashville, already they have a fast-skating team, so he is definitely going to help that. So I expect him to have a rebound year.
We're going to miss those guys tremendously, ... But the depth of our team is going to be pretty good.
We're facing adversity now, but it's better it be now than later. As the game went on, we did a better job keeping it together, but we're still not together.
We want to play well against Vancouver. We want to make sure we try and get a good win and have a good game there. We'll see how it plays out.
When you think of Canadian hockey, he was the greatest ever to play the game. When he talks, everybody listens. He has that much knowledge and respect, and whatever he has to say is important. It's not that we can't win without him, but we feel that much stronger with him.
When you think of Canada, you think of hockey and you think of Wayne Gretzky.
We're right there with everybody else. The division's tight. We were hoping to get closer to Calgary (on Sunday), but it didn't work out. Guys have worked hard all year and we're right in it.
To play in the Olympics, to play for your country, there's nothing like it. You love doing it and I'm looking forward to it again. We're all looking forward to trying to win another gold.
With the new rules, we think we can do that.
We know how tough the division's going to be. These are all four-point games, especially this time of year. I didn't realize what our record was in the Northwest, but as long as we keep winning and climbing that's the most important thing.
We know how back home much this is going to hurt. We feel the same way here.