DENVER (AP) — Joe Sakic was back in the goal-scoring business Sunday night in an alumni game that featured some of his Stanley Cup-winning Colorado Avalanche teammates.
Just a few shifts for old time's sake as the Hall of Fame forward turned front office executive was paired on a line with Peter Forsberg and Milan Hejduk. He scored early off a pass from Hejduk.
Now, it's back to the deal-making business for Sakic with training camp around the corner.
Sakic's trying to wrap up a contract extension that will keep Cale Makar, a two-time Norris Trophy winner as the league’s top defenseman, in Denver well into the future. Makar is coming off a season in which he had 20 goals and 59 assists.
“We continue talking,” Sakic said before taking the ice against the University of Denver alumni at Magness Arena. “I’m pretty confident that he’ll be signed before the season starts."
There have already been some big contracts signed this offseason, including Bowen Byram's $75 million, six-year contract extension with the Chicago Blackhawks that's set to make him the highest paid defenseman.
“Really? I haven’t noticed that,” Sakic cracked about the contracts and how it might affect the market for Makar. “Like I said, I’m not worried about it. I don’t think Cale’s worried about it. Dialog’s been great and when there’s an agreement, we’ll gladly announce it. Hopefully something will be done before the start of training camp."
Sakic also had no updates on contract talks with coach Jared Bednar, who’s entering his final year. The Avalanche are coming off a season in which they had the best record in hockey before being swept by the Vegas Golden Knights in the Western Conference Final. Bednar, the franchise's all-time leader in wins, led Colorado to a Stanley Cup title in 2022.
“Everything’s great. Not worried about that,” Sakic said. “There’s been coaches, there’s been players that have gone into their last year of their deals before, and there’s going to be in the future, so not really concerned about it.”
For Sakic & Co., the game Sunday was a chance to take the ice with teammates — and honor old friends. The teams took a moment to remember Claude Lemieux, who died in May at 60.
Lemieux was part of the Avalanche's Stanley Cup team in 1995-96, which was the team's first season in Denver after moving from Quebec. The Avalanche won again in 2000-01.
The entire weekend was a chance to catch up and swap tales.
“This is just the perfect type of game to get together, get on the ice ... spend some time for a few days, and then just think about the old times,” Sakic said.
Forsberg felt the same way. He said his foot keeps him from skating as much as he would like and was hoping he wouldn't be benched.
“My playing form is not that good anymore,” the Hall of Famer said with a laugh.
Forsberg's eager to see Sakic step back into the general manager role in addition to serving as president of hockey operations. Sakic inherited the GM job again when Chris MacFarland left for the front office of the Nashville Predators.
It was a busy offseason for Sakic as he sent Valeri Nichushkin to the Columbus Blue Jackets for draft picks. That was a way to free up space given Nichushkin had four more seasons left on his contract at a salary cap hit of $6.125 million. The savings could be used to possibly wrap up a long-term extension with Makar.
“Just feels like everything Joe touches, it goes well,” Forsberg said. “I’m really happy to see him back.”
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