Denver, CO (Best E Casino) - Colorado Avalanche veteran center Joe Sakic revealed that he will delay his decision on retirement until after the NHL's free-agency period.

According to a Denver newspaper, club vice president Jean Martineau said Sakic will definitely not make a decision before the July 1 deadline.

Sakic, 38, made $6.75 million on a one-year deal for last season. In his 19th with the franchise, he posted career-lows with 13 goals and 40 points in only 44 games while being slowed by groin problems and subsequent hernia surgery.

Whatever he decides, it will have a drastic effect on the plans of several of his teammates, notably Peter Forsberg, Jose Theodore and Andrew Brunette, who have yet to sign new deals. If Sakic had decided to call it a career before July 1, the Avalanche would have had more money freed under the salary cap to sign other players.

The British Columbia native has accumulated 623 goals and 1,629 points over 1,363 games all with the Quebec/Colorado franchise since the 1988-89 season.