Adam Foote will turn 39 in July, which makes him a relatively young man away from an ice rink. But in hockey years, Foote is an old dog. Despite all that, the Colorado Avalanche believe last year’s team captain still has something to offer, re-signing him Tuesday to a one-year, $1 million contract.

“It’s nice that they think I can still play,” Foote tells The Denver Post. “I don’t want to be here just to help guys off the ice. I wanted to make sure that I was honest I could still play out there. It feels good.”

According to the Post, Foote will be his entering his 20th year in the National Hockey League (minus one season because of the strike-canceled 2004-05 schedule). When he was drafted in 1989 by what was then the Quebec Nordiques, current Avalanche star Matt Duchene wasn’t even born yet. But, Foote is still productive and is expected to add a tough edge to the defense and mentor a new crop of young Avalanche skaters. Foote has scored 300 points over 1,107 career games, has been to the Olympics twice with the Canadian national team, and has won two Stanley Cup championships with the Avs.

Meanwhile, Mile High Hockey has published its review of Duchene’s rookie campaign, giving him high marks for his major contributions (namely his 55 points) and saying he’s destined to become the Avs’ future captain before too long.