Joe Sakic receives major award nomination, may finally get his due

The Colorado Avalanche had a fruitful Tuesday night in Tampa, with Cale Makar taking home the team’s first Norris Trophy.

The league announced that his boss and Avs legend Joe Sakic was nominated for the Jim Gregory General Manager of the Year Award. Sakic was a finalist alongside old teammate Chris Drury, who runs the New York Rangers, and Julian BriseBois, who is in charge of the Avs’ Cup Final’s competitor—the Tampa Bay Lightning.

Sakic was already in Tampa between Games 3 and 4 of the Stanley Cup Final. The former Colorado captain became the de facto General Manager in 2013 and has built the best Avs team of the last two decades.

Super Joe’s superteam was built through the draft and shrewd trades. Not only will the Makar and Nathan MacKinnon selections go down as key, but so will his steal of a trade for Devon Toews. All the while, Sakic has added along the way, picking up starting goaltender Darcy Kuemper and All-Star Nazem Kadri. Sakic hasn’t gotten a lot of credit for his moves, but his team is two wins away from making the legend look like a genius.

Sakic is the franchise leader in games played, goals, assists, points and is widely considered the best player in club history. His on-ice prowess has translated into a ruthless off-ice sill in wheeling in dealing. Just his past trade deadline, Colorado acquired four players who have all been essential on the Avs’ run to the Cup Final. Three of the four have scored game-winning goals.

Josh and Stan Kroenke were also at the award show.

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