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Ever wanted to ask a sports personality a question? Now’s your chance. They will answer readers’ questions in The Denver Post’s “Fan Mail” feature.

Keep an eye out for the next week’s installment or make a suggestion for the next subject. Send your questions in an email to fanmail@denverpost.com.

Did Joe Sakic’s involvement in the front office influence your decision to re-sign with Colorado for another year? Do you think this team will return to the playoffs in 2012?

— Troy, Calgary

Milan Hejduk: Having Joe come back didn’t really change my decision. It’s awesome that he’s back with the Avs and I think it will be great to have him around more often, but whether Joe was there or not I was ready to go and play at least one more year.

As for the playoffs, let’s hope so. We’ve always bounced back in the past and I think the team will be stronger and healthier next year. I think we have a good chance to make the playoffs.

I remember you once said that you would have pursued a tennis career if you never played in the NHL. I was curious to know what you like to do in the offseason to take your mind off of hockey?

— Jerome, Wheat Ridge

MH: For me, it’s usually golf. I like to play golf in the summer and I also spend some quality time with the family. Those would be the two biggest things.

Considering your retirement in a year or two or three, have you given any thought to post-retirement work? Coaching, hockey administration, investing, real estate, food service (e.g. owning a restaurant), etc.?

— Phrish, Highlands Ranch

ML: Actually, I would like to stay around hockey. Most likely I would like to coach my kids. That would be kind of cool to do some day. It would be kind of nice to stay around the game, since it’s something I’ve been doing all my life.

You’ve been around the league for a while now and I would like to know what has surprised you the most about how the league has changed since you first broke in as a rookie?

— Sean, Boulder

MH: The post-lockout NHL is definitely younger and has a lot more speed. The young players are playing at a much higher level than they used to be. These days it seems like they come into the league at 18 or 19 years old and they’re ready to go. Before, most of the young players took a while to establish themselves. But I’d say the biggest difference is definitely the speed.

Your demeanor on and off the ice is a fine example to your younger teammates and the league. Having said that, what steps do the Avs need to take to be back in contention?

— Rico, Salt Lake City

MH: I think it would be nice if the team was able to stay healthy. We had so many injuries last year, and the last couple of years, actually. It hurts a team when your key guys are out of the lineup for such a long time. The biggest thing will be to keep them in there so they can help us make the playoffs.

Hey Milan, I’m a big-time fan from Germany … watching you guys every night at about 3 a.m.! You are about to start your 13th season with the Avs franchise. At what time did you realize that this team will be the only team you will ever play and that Denver will be your home?

— Manuel, Munich, Germany

MH: I don’t know. I would say probably after three or four years playing here in Denver. I really liked the team, the city and the people here. Now I’m married and I have kids. We have friends here and we like it here, so there’s really no reason to go somewhere else. I’m really happy here and hopefully things will stay that way and I can finish my career in Colorado.

You have been with the Avs during both the glory days (Stanley Cup) and dark days (this past season), so you obviously know what it takes to put a winning team on the ice. What do you believe that this team needs the most to get back to being perennial championship contenders?

— Douglas, Aurora

MH: A lot of things have to come together, starting with good goaltending and solid defense, and going right through to getting good offense. You need a big team effort. Your young players need to get some experience, too. It’s hard to go far in the playoffs without a lot of experience. You can do it, but it doesn’t happen very often. A little bit of luck too. There are so many things you need to have.

Although I live in Iowa I have been an Avs fan since they came to Denver (my son’s name is Brayden Forsberg Burgett if that tells you what kind of a fan I am). I remember watching games in the glory years when the team would fall behind but they never seem to worry about it. They seemed to know they could turn it up a notch and get the win. After playing for years with players like Joe Sakic and Peter Forsberg, who on this team (other than yourself) do you see being able to step up when games are on the line and make the big play?

— Brian Burgett, Des Moines, Iowa

MH: One thing we had a hard time doing last year was when we fell behind we didn’t play our game and squeezed our sticks more. We weren’t quite as relaxed as some of the teams in the past. Back then, you could feel the confidence even when the team was down a goal or two, because you knew you could come back and win the hockey game. It’s a little different now, because we have such a young team. I think we have a lot of players who can eventually step into that role.

As the Avs’ most established veteran, what are some of the lessons you’ve learned over the years from guys like Sakic, Forsberg, Roy, Bourque, Blake, Theo Fleury (yes, I’ve read his book!) that you can impart on the younger, up-and-coming players? And do you expect your leadership role on the team to increase with the retirement of Adam Foote?

— Joey, Westminster

MH: I think the biggest thing I learned from those guys, and it was mostly from Joe Sakic, was to be even keeled. Whether things are going bad or good, how to stay pretty much level. You don’t want to go through big ups and downs. Everyone has stretches when things aren’t going well, but you can’t be too hyper. Stay level and things will sort out in time.

Sometimes I felt maybe there was too much hype after wins, and when we didn’t win we were too down. As a team we need to learn to stay more level.

Can you please touch on your inspiration for and why we haven’t seen anything even close to that since?

— Aaron, Ann Arbor, Michigan.

MH: I don’t know, it was nothing that I really planned. I scored an overtime goal and started swimming out of pure joy and happiness. It was just a reaction. It might happen again, you never know, but I never plan anything like that.

(Editor’s note: The so-called “Duck Dance” was born on March 26, 200o when Hejduk scored an overtime goal to beat the Dallas Stars 2-1. )

Milan Hejduk, 35, is the Avalanche’s link to their glorious past. He is the only player on their roster from Colorado’s 2001 Stanley Cup champion team. He’s spent his entire NHL career with the Avs and earlier this month signed a one-year, $2.6 million contract.

Hejduk and his wife, Zlatuse, have 7-year-old twin sons, Marek and David.