from Woody Paige of The Gazette,

Patrick Roy and Joe Sakic, linked together as teammates, colleagues and friends for 10½ seasons with the Avalanche, were split apart Thursday, causing a gaping gash.

It’s an unpleasant, ugly breakup between the hot-blooded, impulsive Roy and the even-tempered, halcyon Sakic.

Perhaps the separation of the pair, like oil and water, was inevitable with Sakic as Avs’ executive vice president/general manager and Roy as vice president of hockey operations/head coach. Unlike John Elway with the Broncos, neither Roy nor Sakic had total control. And, ultimately, they couldn’t share the reign and the reins.

Therein lies the tale of the Patty melt.

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