Print this page

1. Joe Sakic

1. Joe Sakic

There have been a plethora of phenomenal players who have suited up for the Quebec Nordiques/Colorado Avalanche.  Still, it was effortless to choose Joe Sakic as the greatest Avalanche player ever.

With the Avs for his entire 21-Year career, Sakic was drafted 15th Overall, where many non-Hall of Famers were chosen ahead of him.  The center was a visible gem who would become a twelve-time All-Star, the first of which took place in 1990.  What made him so special was not just his ability to put the puck in the net and set up his teammates.  Sakic rarely made mistakes on the ice, and would quickly become regarded as one of the best leaders of the game. 

When the franchise relocated to Colorado for the 1995/96 season, the team put it all together, winning their first Stanley Cup.  While this was undoubtedly bitter for Quebec City, those who followed Sakic were thrilled to watch him in the Stanley Cup Playoffs, where he would lead all skaters in Points and would win the Conn Smythe Trophy as the MVP for the post-season.

That was great, but the best was yet to come!

Sakic would have his best season in 2000-01, where he would again take Colorado to a Stanley Cup win, and individually, he would win the Hart Trophy, Lady Byng, Lester B Pearson Award, and had a career-high in Goals (54) and Points (118).  Also named a First Team All-Star, Sakic would again secure that accolade two of the next three seasons.

Sakic is the all-time franchise leader in Games Played (1,378), Goals (625), Assists (1,016), and Points (1,641), which looks like it will be intact for many years to come.

Sakic would be inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2012, his first year of eligibility.

The Bullet Points

  • Position: Center
  • Acquired: Selected in the 1st Round, 15th Overall 6/13/87.
  • Departed: Retired 7/9/09.
  • Games Played: 1378
  • Notable Statistics: 625 Goals
    1,016 Assists
    1,641 Points
    614 PIM
    1.17 PPG
    +30 Plus/Minus
    167.8 Point Shares

    160 Playoff Games
    84 Goals
    104 Assists
    188 Points
    78 PIM
    1.18 PPG
    -2 Plus/Minus
  • Major Accolades and Awards:

    Stanley Cup Champion (1996 & 2001)
    Hart Trophy (2001)
    Ted Lindsay Award (2001)
    Lady Byng Trophy (2001)
    Conn Smythe Trophy (1996)
    First Team All-Star (2001, 2002 & 2004)
    All-Star (1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1996, 1998, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2004 & 2007)
    Highest Plus/Minus (2000-01)
    Most Short-Handed Goals (1998-99)
    Most Game-Winning Goals (2000-01)
    Most Assists per Game (1999-00)
    Most Offensive Point Shares (2000-01)
    Most Point Shares (2000-01)

Comments powered by CComment