Avalanche captain Sakic talks about returning
The Canadian Press

http://tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=267818&lid=sublink05&lpos=headlines_main

Avalanche captain Joe Sakic spoke to the media for the first time since undergoing a back operation and recovering from three broken fingers, and the veteran forward hopes to recover in time to play for Colorado down the stretch of the season.

"Right now, it's still too early for a timetable," Sakic said. "I definitely want to be back sometime near the end of the year. I'm not too sure right now, but as long as rehab keeps working and my back does fine and progresses, hopefully I'll be by the end of the year."

Sakic mangled his left hand in a snow blower accident in December and while he was sidelined he underwent surgery to repair a herniated disk that had been bothering him all season.

He said his hand injuries are "irrelevant" now and the major issue is his back.

"As long as my back keeps progressing, whenever I'm ready to go, I'm going to be back," he said.

The 39-year-old centre has played in just 15 games this season with two goals and 10 assists.

before this even came out, my thoughts were joe was going to play thru the olympic year and then retire at the end of the season..i think he wants one more shot at a gold for canada