Avalanche captain Joe Sakic hopes to have a decision "in the next couple of weeks" about whether he will play in 2008-09 or retire.

"I needed some extra time this year," Sakic said Monday on Denver's KKFN-FM (104.3) during an interview to promote his upcoming charity golf tournament. "It's been a very, very difficult decision to make. I'm hoping to have something here in the next couple of weeks, make my final decision and go forward with it."

Sakic, who missed 38 games after hernia surgery last season, said he doesn't want his choice to linger: "I should make my final decision pretty soon. Whatever that is, I want to make sure it's 100 percent sure."

Unlike the Green Bay Packers, who pushed Brett Favre for a decision in March, setting up the saga that has enveloped the NFL for much of the summer, the Avalanche front office told Sakic to take as much time as he needed.

Sakic said he has been speaking with general manager Francois Giguere and coach Tony Granato.

"When I talked to Francois in June, we both understood that the team was going to go forward, regardless of what my decision was going to be, and that enabled me to take as much time as I could," Sakic said.

Sakic said it will come down to whether he still has the competitive fire to put in all the off-the-ice work required. He said he only wants to play another season if he can still be a full-time, front-line center.

"I have to be honest with my body and myself and know that if I come back, I want to come back and help the team, and help the team be successful," he said. "If I can't be that player, then I don't think it would be fair to the team or myself to play."

The Avalanche reports for physicals Sept. 19 with training camp set to start Sept. 20.

AVALANCHE SIGNS TWO: Colorado announced it has signed forward Tom Fritsche and defenseman Nigel Williams to entry-level contracts. The 6-foot-4, 226-pound Williams, 20, was Colorado's second-round pick (51st overall) in the 2006 NHL entry draft. Fritsche, 21, also was a second-round pick by the Avalanche, the 47th overall selection in the 2005 entry draft.