Is it the end?
Today is a bittersweet day. The snow is flying, I have playoff tickets to see the Avs and Dead Things. All would seem to be well, but tonight may be the last game for the Captain, ever. The Great Joe Sakic faces elimination by the hated enemy. I will be there to see him score a playoff point or two and pass Stevie Y on the all time playoff points list (Yet another list where he inhabits the top 10 all time). It is ironic given the huge rivalry of the late 90's and early 2000s that he and the other Captain would be after all this time tied as the two franchises are tied since 96 when the Avs came to Colorado at the top of the list in playoff victories. As much as the RED WINGS SUCK, Stevie Y was as good as it gets both on and off the ice. (Wow that hurt to say)
Speaking of hurt to say... Joe looks a step slow on the ice in these playoffs. He was beat badly on a couple of plays at the point on the PP and gave up Short handed chances against the Wild and can't seem to break into open space against the Wings. He was hurt and only got into about 20 games at the end of the season so it could be something other than a sign of things to come (or a retirement key for Joe himself who would likely never be on the ice if he couldn't be a premier player). I have mixed feelings about his eventual departure. One of the greatest will have left the ice, and he played his whole career for my beloved Avalanche/Nordiques - something even the Great One did not do. It will be diminished without him even if they are better. He has earned the right to do whatever he wants - play as a third line part timer until he's 50 if he wants. But I wonder what it would be like, juxtaposing his brilliance for so long against something somehow less but present.
Speaking of hurt to say... Joe looks a step slow on the ice in these playoffs. He was beat badly on a couple of plays at the point on the PP and gave up Short handed chances against the Wild and can't seem to break into open space against the Wings. He was hurt and only got into about 20 games at the end of the season so it could be something other than a sign of things to come (or a retirement key for Joe himself who would likely never be on the ice if he couldn't be a premier player). I have mixed feelings about his eventual departure. One of the greatest will have left the ice, and he played his whole career for my beloved Avalanche/Nordiques - something even the Great One did not do. It will be diminished without him even if they are better. He has earned the right to do whatever he wants - play as a third line part timer until he's 50 if he wants. But I wonder what it would be like, juxtaposing his brilliance for so long against something somehow less but present.
I'm hoping of course that he will play at least another game at the Can this year and then finds that top gear one more time for an extended curtain call, but tonight could be the end. And I'll be there. Like I said, bittersweet.
And did I mention,
RED WINGS SUCK!
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