Sarich was traded along with Wayne Primeau and Brian Holzinger from Buffalo, to the Tampa Bay Lightning for Chris Gratton on March 9, 2000, and played with the Stanley Cup-winning team of 2003–04.

After seven seasons within the Lightning organization, Sarich returned to Canada and signed a five-year contract as a free agent with the Calgary Flames on July 1, 2007.

[1] During the 2007–08 season, on December 12, 2007, Sarich became the NHL's reigning iron man when Brendan Morrison was forced to miss a game with wrist complications.

[4] In the off-season, on June 27, 2013, Sarich waived his no-trade clause with the Flames and was traded, along with Alex Tanguay, to the Colorado Avalanche in exchange for David Jones and Shane O'Brien.

[6] While cycling during off-season training near Invermere, British Columbia, Sarich was struck and seriously injured by a car and ultimately transported by air ambulance to hospital in Calgary.