Quote:
Joe Sakic reportedly will retire from the NHL on Thursday, but whether he plans to accept Steve Yzerman's invitation to Team Canada's summer orientation camp remains to be seen.
The Colorado Avalanche have scheduled a media conference Thursday at 1 p.m. MT, at which time Sakic is expected to announce his retirement.
Sakic's playing time the past two seasons was limited by injuries, including a herniated disk that required surgery and three broken fingers on his left hand suffered in a snowblower accident.
Even so, Sakic was one of 46 players invited by Yzerman, executive director of the Canadian men's Olympic team, to attend an orientation camp in Calgary from Aug. 24 to 27.
Sakic was drafted 15th overall by the Quebec Nordiques in 1987, and become the face of the franchise when it was moved to Denver and renamed the Avalanche in 1995.
The 40-year-old Burnaby, B.C., native posted 625 goals and 1,016 assists for 1,641 points in 1,378 games over 20 NHL seasons with the Nordiques/Avalanche and captained Colorado to Stanley Cups in 1996 and 2001.
He won the Hart Trophy as NHL MVP in 2001 and the Conn Smythe Trophy as top playoff performer in 1996.
Sakic captained Colorado to Stanley Cups in 1996 and 2001, and he was voted tournament MVP when Team Canada won its first Olympic gold medal in 50 years at the 2002 Salt Lake City Winter Games.
He also helped Team Canada win the 2004 World Cup of Hockey, the 1994 world championship and 1988 junior worlds.
SUPER JOE
Sakic ranks eighth all-time in points (1,641), 11th in assists (1,016) and 14th in goals (625) among NHLers.