Joe Sakic's apparent decision to retire on his 40th birthday etched him into an exclusive club: those who play their entire careers with one organization. Sakic played 1,378 games with the Quebec Nordiques/Colorado Avalanche and is the first (soon-to-be) Hall of Famer to spend an entire career with one organization since Mario Lemieu, who was inducted in 1997.
In today's NHL, and across all four major sports for that matter, spending an entire career with one organization is rare. Lucky for the current crop of fans and barring any major surprises, the two biggest stars in the league today (Alex Ovechkin and Sidney Crosby) are set to match that feat.
Loyalty certainly was part of Sakic's greatness as was the leadership he displayed by serving as longtime captain. But his stats are other-worldly as well: 625 goals, 1,016 assists, 86 game-winning goals, two Stanley Cups.
So when Sakic's decision becomes official tomorrow, take a second to witness a rarity -- and treasure the fact that the Caps' own Ovie might match or surpass that feat over the next decade.
July 8, 2009
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