Report: Joe Sakic is full-time Avalanche GM again, no search happening

Colorado Avalanche legend Joe Sakic moved back to the GM position earlier this summer.

After Chris MacFarland departed for the Nashville Predators, the Avs needed someone to step in and handle the day-to-day business.

That sounded like it was going to a temporary role for Sakic, who had previously served as Colorado’s president of hockey operations, overseeing MacFarland and his staff.

But on Monday morning, Evan Rawal of The Denver Gazette reported that Sakic is returning to being the full-time GM of the Avalanche.

Only a few months back in the chair he hasn’t occupied since 2022 has Joe Sakic feeling “reinvigorated.”

Avs news: Joe Sakic will be the Avalanche General Manager full-time moving forward, team sources confirm.

There will be no GM search for now.

“Reinvigorated” was the word used to describe Sakic back in the GM role.

More soon.

— Evan Rawal (@evanrawal) September 14, 2026

All indications were Avalanche owner Josh Kroenke would conduct a GM search for MacFarland’s replacement, but it’s no longer needed. According to Rawal, Joe Sakic has accepted the gig and removed the interim label.

This is a huge win for Avs fans.

Sakic was the GM when the team won the Stanley Cup in 2022 and within a matter of weeks, MacFarland was given the gig. Sakic remained with the organization, but oversaw things rather than make every single decision a GM typically does.

However, the itch is back for the greatest player in Avalanche history to run the show.

“Being swept in the Western Conference final by the Vegas Golden Knights got his ‘competitive juices’ flowing,” team sources told Rawal.

It looked like Colorado could win the Stanley Cup last season, going 8-1 through the first two rounds of the playoffs. But it all came crashing down against Vegas, exiting the postseason with a whimper.

This offseason has been a historic one for Sakic, inking superstar defenseman Cale Makar to the largest contract in NHL history, worth more than $160 million over eight seasons.

And now, at least for the 2026-27 season, he’s all-in. Rawal says the franchise will “reassess beyond that.”

In a perfect world, the Avalanche capture the Cup this year and then Joe Sakic can decide what he wants to do moving forward.

But make no mistake about it, this is a great day for all who support the Avs.

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