Sakic reportedly set to retire

Joe Sakic, the Colorado Avalanche's longtime captain who led the team to two Stanley Cup titles, will retire tomorrow and end his 20-year NHL career, the Associated Press reported.

The 13-time all-star forward turned 40 yesterday.

Sakic has been the face of the franchise since the team relocated to Denver from Quebec in 1995. He teamed with Patrick Roy, Peter Forsberg, and Adam Foote to win the Stanley Cup in 1996 and 2001.

Known for his laser wrist shot and precision passing, Sakic will retire with his name among the NHL's career scoring leaders. He is eighth in points (1,641), 11th in assists (1,016), and 14th in goals (625).

Sakic said just before the end of the season that he hoped to be healthy enough to possibly join Team Canada for the 2010 Winter Games in Vancouver.

Leafs get goalie. Toronto nabbed coveted Swedish goalie Jonas Gustavsson with a one-year contract yesterday. The 24-year-old netminder, nicknamed "The Monster," also was heavily pursued by Dallas, San Jose and Colorado.

Gustavsson played for Farjestads in the Swedish Elite League last season, registering four shutouts with a league-leading 1.96 goals-against average in 42 games.

Marchant re-signs. Todd Marchant, an unrestricted free-agent center, signed a two-year deal to stay with Anaheim.

Marchant, who will turn 36 next month, had five goals and 13 assists in 72 games last season, his fourth with Anaheim.

Talbot undergoes surgery. Pittsburgh Penguins forward Maxime Talbot will miss training camp and the beginning of the season after undergoing surgery to repair torn cartilage in his left shoulder.

Elsewhere. The Dallas Stars signed free-agent defenseman Jeff Woywitka, formerly with St. Louis, to a two-year deal. . . . Free-agent forward Stephane Veilleux, formerly with Minnesota, signed with the Tampa Bay Lightning. . . . The Calgary Flames brought back center Jamie Lundmark and signed forward Jason Jaffray, who played in 14 games for the Vancouver Canucks last season.