 Sakic was drafted 15th overall by the Quebec Nordiques in the 1987 NHL Entry Draft . Rather than make the immediate jump , he told the Nordiques management he would prefer to spend the 1987 – 88 season in Swift Current to prepare for the NHL . He made his NHL debut on October 6 , 1988 , against the Hartford Whalers and registered an assist . His first NHL goal came two days later against goaltender Sean Burke of the New Jersey Devils . During the season , he wore # 88 because his preferred number , # 19 was already taken by a teammate , Alain Côté . While considered a front @-@ runner for the Calder Memorial Trophy as rookie of the year due to his rapid scoring pace , an ankle injury that forced him to miss 10 games in December and the resulting scoring slump helped quash any hopes of winning the award . He would finish his rookie season with 62 points in 70 games . 
