"After having the privilege of playing for 20 years, I'm leaving the game of hockey with nothing but great memories and a sense of accomplishment," said Sakic. "The game has given me more than I ever dreamed of, and for that I am truly grateful."

Sakic was team captain for 16 consecutive seasons (17 seasons overall), making him the second-longest serving captain in NHL history. Sakic led the Avalanche to two Stanley Cup titles (1996, 2001), which included the city of Denver's first major professional sports championship in 1996.

The Burnaby, B.C., native captured the franchise's first Hart Trophy as league MVP in 2001, won the Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP in 1996, earned the Lester B. Pearson Award (NHLPA MVP) and Lady Byng Trophy (sportsmanship) in 2001 and was named to the NHL's First All-Star Team in 2001, 2002 and 2004.

Sakic, 40, retires as the eighth-leading scorer in NHL history with 1,641 career points. He sits 14th all-time in goals (625) and 11th in assists (1,016). Only four players have ever recorded more points with a single franchise: Gordie Howe (1809) and Steve Yzerman (1755) with Detroit, Mario Lemieux with Pittsburgh (1723) and Wayne Gretzky with Edmonton (1669). Sakic ranks seventh all-time in both playoff goals (84) and playoff points (188-tied), and holds the NHL record with eight postseason overtime goals.

Selected 15th overall by the Quebec Nordiques in the 1987 Entry Draft, Sakic is the franchise's all-time leader in games played, goals, assists, points, power-play goals (205), short-handed goals (32) and game-winning goals (86). He scored 30 or more goals in a franchise-record nine different seasons and surpassed the 20-goal mark in 17 of his 20 campaigns. He is also the club’s all-time leader in playoff games (172), goals, assists (104), points, PPG (27), SHG (4) and GWG (19).