NHL teamPatience paid off for the Colorado Avalanche, who signed Joe Sakic to a one-year, US$6-million contract Wednesday after he decided to play a 20th NHL season rather than call it a career.

"Ultimately it came down to the fact that I still enjoy playing and competing," the 39-year-old captain said in a statement released by the NHL team. "I'm comfortable with my conditioning and my overall health.

"I'm ready for the start of camp and am looking forward to the upcoming season."

Because the Democratic National Convention is taking place this week at the Pepsi Center, the Avs' home, the NHL team said it wouldn't hold a news conference until next week.

Sakic's teammates had started to fear he wasn't coming back, and the announcement was a relief.
Sakic's agent, Don Baizley, said his client informed him of his decision late Tuesday night. The sides had been talking over the summer, so it didn't take long to finalize the contract. Sakic's new contract includes a no-movement clause.

Sakic was coming off his most difficult season, having missed 38 games following hernia surgery before returning to the lineup to help the NHL team reach the playoffs after a one-year absence.

But unlike a year ago, when he signed a one-year, $6.75-million deal the day after the season ended, Sakic left town this spring unsure whether he had worn the blue and maroon sweater for the last time. 
 
And general manger Francois Giguere was fine with that.

Unlike the Green Bay Packers, who pressed quarterback Brett Favre for a decision in March so they could plot their future with or without him - an approach that ultimately backfired when Favre changed his mind, unretired and forced an ugly divorce that ended with him playing for the New York Jets - the Avalanche took the opposite approach with Sakic.

Giguere told him to take as much time as he needed, even if that meant informing the NHL team of his decision on the eve of training camp in September.

Giguere explained he wanted Sakic to be 100 per cent committed either to returning or retiring lest he have any regrets.

Despite the uncertainly, that approach sat well with his teammates.

All team sports information reports,as an unrestricted free agent, Sakic could have fielded offers from another NHL team but told his agent he would play for the Avalanche next season or not at all.