"Joe Sakic Signs with the Avalanche" ... that's underselling it. "WOOOOHOOOOOO" was a little closer. But we think Tapeleg perfectly captured the Colorado Avalanche fan reaction to the news that Joe Sakic has signed on for another season: "Sakic is Back, Hockey Exists One More Year."

If there's anything that tempered the euphoria for the Colorado fans, it was the financial reality of the deal. From Terry Frei at the Denver Post:

Sakic's $6 million salary in 2008-09 will be $750,000 less than Sakic made last season. Depending on final roster choices the Avalanche makes, Colorado looks to be in line for about a $52 million payroll in cap figures at the start of the season, leaving it under the $56.7 million maximum.

That's probably enough financial wiggle room for a potential return of Peter Forsberg -- if he does return -- but if you're one of these people holding out hope for a Mats Sundin/Nordiques homecoming ... well, that would be quite a steep discount, wouldn't it?

Joe Dunman had two interesting reactions to the Sakic signing yesterday: One on his Hockey News blog, and the other back on Mile High Hockey, where he once again pimped Peter Budaj as a starting goalie and gave this assessment of the Avs with Sakic:

I have contended that the most vulnerable part of the Colorado Avalanche this season will be the offense and I'm still contending that.  Not the defense, and not the goaltending.  With Peter Forsberg's fate ever unknown (and his advancing age and declining skills still a factor, healthy or not), the Avalanche offense is still lacking an extra punch.  Son of Stastny is money, sure, but can Wolski and Svatos really step up their games?  Can Milan Hejduk not crumble to pieces (or even just score on a regular basis)?  Can Ryan Smyth keep his mullet all in one piece?  And will Tony Granato avoid the pitfalls of frequent line changes and punitive benchings?

As Frei pointed out, the offense is immediately helped by the return of a No. 1 center who, even in an injury-plagued season for himself and the team, was a point-per-game guy. Also, someone like Wojtek Wolski won't need to shift to center as Paul Stastny ascended to the top line. Even without Forsberg, this team has an outstanding collection of offensive talent on its top two lines. One assumes Granato will encourage it more than Joel Quenneville did last season.

It's mind-blowing to think that Sakic is only one year removed from a 100-point season. At 39, what can be expected of him? Steve Yzerman had 34 points in 61 games as a 40-year-old. At 39, Mark Messier had 54 points in 66 games; of course, he'd go on to play until he was 43. Wayne Gretzky's last season, at 38, saw him tally 62 points in 70 games.

If he remains healthy, are 80 points a possibility for Sakic this season? Does he have another century mark in him? And isn't it great for hockey that we can now officially ask these questions about Joe Sakic's 20th NHL season?

Related: Hockey Fans