What happened: Insider Troy Renck says he is not surprised that Joe Sakic is stepping in as the Colorado Avalanche's acting general manager for the next several months. The move follows word that the club resumes Sakic's GM oversight after the departure of Chris MacFarland, whom the team reportedly tried to retain with multiple offers.

Why it matters: Sakic, the franchise icon who built Colorado's 2022 Cup winner before moving into a president-of-hockey-operations role, taking back direct GM duties signals continuity at the top during an offseason of change. His return steadies decision-making on contracts, the draft and roster construction for a defending-contender window.

What to watch: Watch for how long the 'acting' tag lasts and whether Colorado conducts an outside GM search. Sakic's first tests are draft positioning and pending roster and contract calls this summer.