Q: Is Joe Sakic returning before the season ends? If not, have we likely seen him play for the final time?
— Corey Davis from Anchorage, Alaska
A: Looks to me, Corey, as if we'll see Burnaby Joe back in the Avs lineup before they close up shop on April 12 (barring an all-out miracle finish that prevents the Avs from missing the playoffs for a second time in three seasons).

As of St. Patrick's Day, it appeared Sakic, who will turn 40 in July, would be back practicing within only a day or two. Provided he is able to keep to that timeline, it wouldn't surprise me to see him back in the lineup, say, March 25 when the Ducks play in Denver, or maybe two nights later with his hometown Canucks in town.

As for next season, I suspect Sakic will play again, for a couple of reasons: 1. He won't want to leave with this season, full of injuries and frustration, his lingering memory of a Hall-of-Fame career; 2. Having played in the 1998, 2002 and 2006 Olympics, he'll likely want to suit up against for Team Canada, especially with the Games in Vancouver.

Now, here's the trick part, if he plays in 2009-'10, then where? He has said for years that he doesn't want to retire having worn any sweater other than that of the Quebec/Colorado franchise. But the Avs already have committed some $44 million in salary to 13 players for next season. That doesn't leave a lot of cap space with a cap predicted to drop to about $55 million. To stick around Denver, Sakic might have to play for around $2 million, about one-third of his current pay, and working for short money is something he has never done over his long career.

The one wildcard here: might his hometown Canucks, with a mere $31 million-plus on the books for next year, finally bring the B.C. native home? And while there, he wouldn't have to leave town for the Olympics.

Q: Now that Olli Jokinen is about to finally make the playoffs, which current player will take over the dubious honor of never making the postseason? What’s the record for most games without making the playoffs?
— Andrew Ward from Utica, N.Y.
A: Great question, Andrew, and I've again turned to Bob Watterman at the Elias Sports Bureau (the NHL's official recordkeeper) for an assist here.

Provided he remains healthy and/or the Flames don't self-immolate down the stretch, Jokinen, the No. 3 pick in the '97 draft, will see his frustration come to an end here in his 11th NHL season. Prior to 2008-'09, he played 723 regular-season games, never to experience the thrill of postseason play.

If the Kings miss the post-season again (a good bet right now), the career frustration leader will be 35-year-old Derek Armstrong. The Kings' journeyman center entered the league with the Islanders in 1993-94, and he entered this season, his sixth in LA, with a career consisting of 415 games (regular-season only).

Jokinen this season surpassed Guy Charron, best remembered for his days in Detroit and Washington, for playing the most games without making it to the playoffs. Charron wrapped up with the 1980-81 Caps, having played 734 career games, not a single one in Cup play. Jokinen has edged him in total games, but once Jokinen suits up in Round 1 this year, the record reverts to Charron.

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