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After a summer of indecision, Joe Sakic — the NHL's current active points-scoring leader — decided Wednesday to return for his 20th season, all with the same franchise.

The Colorado Avalanche announced that Sakic, 39, signed a one-year, $6-million (U.S.) contract with the team and will be with the club when training camp opens Sept. 19.

Sakic's decision to return makes the Avalanche a playoff contender. There had been some question as to whether he would return after an injury-plagued 2007-08, in which he was limited to 44 games by a sports hernia operation and scored 40 points, the lowest total of a career that began back with the 1988-89 Quebec Nordiques.

However, Sakic said in a prepared statement that he was healthy and his competitive instincts were still intact.

"Ultimately it came down to the fact that I still enjoy playing and competing," Sakic said. "I'm comfortable with my conditioning and my overall health. I'm ready for the start of camp and am looking forward to the upcoming season."

The Avalanche finished sixth overall in the Western Conference last season and upset the Minnesota Wild in the opening playoff round, before exiting in four games to the Detroit Red Wings in the conference semi-finals. Sakic's long-time teammate, Peter Forsberg, is still in limbo, and will return only if his foot problems are under control. Colorado lost its starting goaltender, Jose Theodore, as a free agent last summer, leaving the netminding in the hands of Peter Budaj and newcomer Andrew Raycroft, the ex-Maple Leaf.

However, with Adam Foote back, after signing a contract extension, and emerging young star Paul Stastny in tow, the Avalanche should now be competitive in the usually tight Northwest Division, which was separated by only 10 points from top to bottom last season.

Avalanche general manager Francois Giguere, in announcing Sakic's return, said: "Our entire organization is very excited to have Joe back for another season. As the only captain of the Avalanche, his record of achievement speaks for itself. Having him return is great for our franchise and community, but also for the game of hockey."

As a result of the Democratic National Convention which is being held in Denver this week, the Avalanche organization will hold a formal press conference on Tuesday, Sept. 2, at 1:00 p.m. at the Family Sports Center in Centennial, Colo, to discuss the signing, at which time Giguere and Sakic will answer questions.

Sakic will enter his 20th season with 1,629 career points in 1,363 games, eighth on the all-time scoring list and 94 behind seventh-place Mario Lemieux. He is one of only 11 players in history with 1,000 career assists (1,006) and could leapfrog Lemieux, Marcel Dionne, Gordie Howe and Steve Yzerman with a 58-assist performance in the coming year.