Joseph Steven Sakic (/ˈsækɪk/;[1] (Croatian pronunciation: [ʃakitɕ][2]) born July 7, 1969) is a Canadian professional ice hockey executive and former player.

Sakic became the third person, after Milt Schmidt and Serge Savard, to win the Stanley Cup with the same franchise as a player and general manager.

Sakic's wrist shot, considered one of the best in the NHL, was the source of much of his production as goalies around the league feared his rapid snap-shot release.

[9] During the 2002 Winter Olympics, Sakic helped lead Team Canada to its first ice hockey gold medal in 50 years and was voted as the tournament's MVP.

Following the end of his playing career, Sakic continued with the Avalanche organization in a management capacity, first serving as executive advisor and alternate governor from 2011 to 2013.

After overseeing a team rebuild, culminating in the franchise's third Stanley Cup victory in 2022, Sakic won the Jim Gregory General Manager of the Year Award.

[13] Sakic was born in Burnaby, British Columbia, to Marijan and Slavica Šakić [14] (Croatian pronunciation: [ʃakitɕ][15]), immigrants from Croatia.

The Broncos were driving to a game against the Regina Pats and due to bad weather conditions, the bus crashed after the driver lost control on a patch of black ice outside of Swift Current.

[28][29] While considered a front-runner for rookie of the year due to his rapid scoring pace, an ankle injury forced Sakic to miss 10 games in December.

[5] Under his leadership, the Nordiques made the playoffs for the first time in six years and set a franchise record for wins and points in the process (since broken by the 2021–22 Colorado Avalanche team).

[43] In the 1996–97 season, Sakic played in only 65 games due to a lacerated calf [3] yet still managed to score 74 points as the Avalanche earned their first Presidents' Trophy and third straight division title.

[27] Sakic had another great playoff season with eight goals and 17 assists and took the Avalanche all the way to the conference finals, where they eventually lost to the Detroit Red Wings in six games.

Under the collective bargaining agreement at the time, the Avalanche had one week to match the Rangers' offer or let go of Sakic in exchange for five first-round draft picks as compensation.

[54] Even with the loss of teammates Peter Forsberg and Adam Foote, Sakic still helped the Avalanche get into the playoffs, where they eventually lost to the Anaheim Ducks in the conference semi-finals.

At the same time, Sakic became the second-oldest NHL player to score 100 points in a season at age 37, alongside hockey legend Gordie Howe.

[61] Despite his efforts, as well as a late-season charge, Sakic and the Avalanche missed the playoffs for the first time in 11 years, finishing one point behind the eighth placed Calgary Flames.

[62][63] On May 1, the NHL announced that Sakic was named as one of the three finalists for the Lady Byng Trophy,[64] but it was eventually awarded to Pavel Datsyuk of the Detroit Red Wings.

"[66] Upon signing Sakic to the deal, Avalanche General Manager François Giguère said, "Joe is the heart of this organization and his leadership and value to this team and especially our young players is unquestioned.

[69] On December 27, 2007, it was announced that Sakic underwent hernia surgery to accelerate the recovery of an injury that had forced him to miss the previous 12 games after a 232 consecutive games-played streak.

[26] During the 1996 World Cup of Hockey, Sakic played only a minor role in Canada's second-place finish as he scored one goal and two assists in six games.

Bothered by a knee injury, Sakic scored only three points in four games [45] as the Canadian squad failed to meet expectations and finished fourth.

The poor season also perpetuated a trade request from star player Matt Duchene, which Sakic would ultimately translate into several assets, including defencemen Sam Girard and Bowen Byram.

In later years, Sakic would make additional trades for Nazem Kadri, Devon Toews, and Artturi Lehkonen, and sign Valeri Nichushkin as a free agent.

[89] Sakic became only the third person, after Milt Schmidt and Serge Savard, to win a Stanley Cup with the same franchise as a player and general manager.

[91] On July 11, 2022, the Avalanche announced that Sakic would be ceding the general manager title to longtime assistant Chris MacFarland and assuming a new role as President of Hockey Operations.

[45][93] Sakic and his wife met at a local high school while he was playing in Swift Current, and they frequently return to the town during the off-season.

[94] Sakic's charity work is estimated to have provided more than seven million meals to poor children and families and earned him an NHL Foundation Player Award in 2007.

His younger brother Brian joined the Swift Current Broncos during Joe's final season with the team and later played for the Flint Generals of the United Hockey League.

[102] Alongside Bobby Clarke, Wayne Gretzky, and Mark Messier, Sakic is one of four players to captain his team to a Stanley Cup championship and win the Hart Memorial Trophy in the same year.

Sakic's leadership qualities and abilities helped carry the Avalanche in the years after their 2001 Stanley Cup,[36][114] which saw the team lose key players to retirement and free agency, especially after the 2004–05 lock-out.