"So, to me, this indicates that he indeed has made up his mind, or is leaning so strongly in that direction, it's a virtual certainty. The only reason for him to try to play again this season, even if it's only the back-to-back home games against St. Louis and Vancouver in the final weekend, on April 11 and 12, is to wave goodbye."
8 months ago
James Mirtle
9 comments
0 recs |
Email
PrintComments
Wow, say it ain’t so. Burnaby Joe is one of the good guys; a class act who will be missed.
jrwendelman
The Artist Formerly Known as "Junior", who blogs at heroesinrehab.ca/blog
"But if someone so eager to engage into fist talk, we can always meet after season end in Minsk." (Mikhail Grabovski and a well-meaning but not particularly skillful translator)
by jrwendelman on Mar 23, 2009 1:32 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
This is in clear violation of the Joe Sakic Rule
Super Joe’s retirement is never on the horizon. It will just happen one day. Until then, we don’t wonder about when he’s going to retire. No exceptions.
http://www.milehighhockey.com/2008/11/29/675194/the-joe-sakic-rule
Hyphens cause writers more trouble than any other form of punctuation, except perhaps commas.
by David Driscoll-Carignan on Mar 23, 2009 1:42 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
Back in the heyday of the Wings-Avs rivalry, I could never hate Sakic as much as the rest of the team. Maybe it was because he reminded me of Steve Yzerman with his leadership and #19… but I always respected him.
by Brodie on Mar 23, 2009 1:58 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
Wait, 'the only reason'?
Unless there are conversations between Frei and Sakic not reflected in that article, I don’t understand Frei’s conclusion. It sounds like a leap from “he’s unlucky this season” and “he said he’d decide sooner than last year” to he’s decided to play this season just “to wave goodbye.”
Heck, Sakic seems a proud, quiet player: I’d just as soon believe that — had he already made up his mind — he’d save his “goodbye” for when they raise #19 to the rafters rather than suit up in two meaningless games just to soak up admiration. But if he’s still considering returning next year, why wouldn’t he taste two live games, post-surgeries, to help inform his decision rather than go into the summer blind and with more doubt?
Whatever he decides, cheers to a great player and a lethal wrist shot, one of the last one-franchise stars.
Lighthouse Hockey: SBN's New York Islanders blog with hip issues.
by Dominik on Mar 23, 2009 2:04 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
You may be right, but Frei’s covered the guy for a long, long time. I’m assuming he’s got a better read on this than, say, me.
by James Mirtle on Mar 23, 2009 2:09 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Except that Joe has stated repeatedly that he’d like to be part of the 2010 Team Canada in the Vancouver Olympics. It’s his ‘hometown’ so to speak and would be a fitting last harrah. Couldn’t he be coming back for a couple of meaningless NHL games to keep himself on the radar and get a more accurate feel for whether or not the Olympics are a reality?
It seems like Frei is stretching a little, kinda like Dater and his “Forsberg is retiring tonight” stuff from a couple of weeks ago.
2008-2009 Colorado Avalanche: Dry Humping Mediocrity
by Mike @ MHH on Mar 23, 2009 2:36 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
If Sakic is potentially returning for 2 games and yet still planning to retire next year, I think we can agree that he wouldn’t be returning for those 2 games just “to soak up admiration”? I know that’s not the thrust of your post … it’s just, surely a player of his calibre and integrity is one of the very, very few who’s earned the right to end his career however he sees fit.
by ChicoMaki on Mar 23, 2009 2:38 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Right, that was a flippant phrase (For the record, I agree Sakic can go out however he pleases, with a parade and a trapeze show if he wants … but even if he did just want to soak up admiration, I wouldn’t blame him! It’s two decades of his life served well he’d be completing.). I just didn’t gather from Frei’s piece why Frei felt that was the only conclusion, so I’m wondering if something more was said or implied, perhaps off the record. (As James pointed out, Frei’s covered him forever.)
Admittedly I’m not following Sakic’s every move, but I just thought his stated aim was always to try to get back this season to add data to his mental gauge on whether he can or wants to return, and the fact they’re out of the playoffs makes using those games a physical test all the more defensible.
Lighthouse Hockey: SBN's New York Islanders blog with hip issues.
by Dominik on Mar 23, 2009 5:41 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Goood analysis Dom. Here’s hoping you’re right and we see a healthy Joe sakic back in 09-10!
by Fauxrumors on Mar 23, 2009 2:49 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Join the community and dive in!
Secondary Sidebar
FanPosts
Community blog posts and discussion.
Certain photos copyright © 2009 by Associated Press or Getty Images. Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of Associated Press and Getty Images is strictly prohibited.
