Former Maple Leafs GM Reveals How Team Nearly Landed Joe Sakic
Photo credit: Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images
Former Maple Leafs GM Dave Nonis revealed the Maple Leafs may have been able to land Joe Sakic, in what could have changed the landscape of the team forever.
If you were a fan of the NHL in the early 90's and beyond, there was no doubt you were enthralled by the play of Joe Sakic. One of the greatest to ever do it, his 20-year career saw him reach the highest of highs, and inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame.
A legend with the Colorado Avalanche, he is the franchise icon and stuck around since the old Nordiques. But things could have been much, much different.
Gord Stellick reveals Joe Sakic was nearly a Toronto Maple Leaf
Speaking on Leafs Morning Take on Monday, former Maple Leafs executive Gord Stellick was asked about any interesting takeaways from his time with the team, and he explained that 'Burnaby Joe' was nearly a Maple Leaf:
I talked about this with Joe Sakic when he got inducted a couple of years ago. I wasn't GM for long, I talks about that incessantly [laughter], but I was on their front office one way or another for 14 years.
That draft, '87, We were picking 6th overall, and John Brophy was our coach, and he had way too much influence as a coach because owner Harold Ballard liked him.
So they say 'We are going to pick a defenseman [Luke Richardson] 6th overall. We feel that's fine if everything goes well in the first five; it worked out and we got Luke.
But give credit to Floyd Smith, our Chief Scout, he makes a last-minute pitch for Joe Sakic. All of a sudden the table is up in arms like 'Holy crap, whatever'.
Brophy was upset because he doesn't like small centermen, it's absurd though when you think about it, how can the coach make such an influence on a player selection; but he had the ear of the owner.
I give him credit for putting it out there, and Sakic wasn't even their first pick, they took Brian Fogarty first, then had a second pick so, you know.
I think about it all the time and wonder 'What if?' but c'est la vie though; it sure worked out for Sakic in the end I think. - Gord Stellick
That draft, '87, We were picking 6th overall, and John Brophy was our coach, and he had way too much influence as a coach because owner Harold Ballard liked him.
So they say 'We are going to pick a defenseman [Luke Richardson] 6th overall. We feel that's fine if everything goes well in the first five; it worked out and we got Luke.
But give credit to Floyd Smith, our Chief Scout, he makes a last-minute pitch for Joe Sakic. All of a sudden the table is up in arms like 'Holy crap, whatever'.
Brophy was upset because he doesn't like small centermen, it's absurd though when you think about it, how can the coach make such an influence on a player selection; but he had the ear of the owner.
I give him credit for putting it out there, and Sakic wasn't even their first pick, they took Brian Fogarty first, then had a second pick so, you know.
I think about it all the time and wonder 'What if?' but c'est la vie though; it sure worked out for Sakic in the end I think. - Gord Stellick
Joe Sakic's legendary career would have transformed the Maple Leafs
Wouldn't it be something if Toronto ended up with Sakic at the end of the day, then somehow managed to still bring in Mats Sundin? Unreal.
Though it's hard to imagine a time where Sakic was a possibility for Toronto, and if it weren't for Brophy; who knows where the team would be?
Sakic's career is legendary. He has 1,641 points in 1,378 games (625G, 1,016A), a two-time Cup winner, a Hart and Pearson award winner and a Conn Smythe.
Only hitting under 20-goals once in his career, Sakic was instrumental in helping the newly transitioned Colorado Avalanche succeed in the mid-90's to early 2000's.
Along with Peter Forsberg, Rob Blake, Milan Hejduk, Alex Tanguay, Chris Drury, and Ray Bourque and Patrick Roy, the Avs became a massive dynasty to be feared around the league.
His incredible two-way production, and gritty yet unimaginably polite demeanor would have made him a legend. He's so good in fact, that when Sean Avery decided to chirp him; Brett Hull needed to step in.
I remember when I was in Detroit, Sean Avery stood up as Joe Sakic was skating by our bench.
Sean was a young, enthusiastic hockey player who was well liked by us old guys, and as you might know, was known for trash talking.
But when he stood up and yelled, «Hey Sakic!» Brett Hull grabbed him by the back of his sweater and yanked him down on the bench.
Then he said, and I'll never forget this, «You are not allowed to speak to Mr. Sakic.» And then Sean looked down the bench at the rest of the boys and we all just sort of nodded. - Brendan Shanahan
Sean was a young, enthusiastic hockey player who was well liked by us old guys, and as you might know, was known for trash talking.
But when he stood up and yelled, «Hey Sakic!» Brett Hull grabbed him by the back of his sweater and yanked him down on the bench.
Then he said, and I'll never forget this, «You are not allowed to speak to Mr. Sakic.» And then Sean looked down the bench at the rest of the boys and we all just sort of nodded. - Brendan Shanahan
The level of respect and admiration for Sakic was league wide, and the fact that he could have been a Leaf definitely stings for what could have been.
Though it seems that things turned out pretty good for him at the end of the day.
| POLL | ||
JUIN 10 | 348 ANSWERS Former Maple Leafs GM Reveals How Team Nearly Landed Joe Sakic Do you think Toronto would have won a Stanley Cup with Joe Sakic? | ||
| Yes | 194 | 55.7 % |
| No | 154 | 44.3 % |
| List of polls | ||
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