Forsberg retires

[camhockey16 5]

this is almost as bad as the brett favre saga..

http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=550203

Forsberg to begin skating with Avalanche

Is Peter Forsberg set to return to the NHL?

That question doesn't have an answer as of yet, but Forsberg will practice with the Colorado Avalanche beginning Saturday, the team announced in a statement.

"I need to see where I am physically and practicing with NHL players is the best way to find that out," Forsberg said.

Forsberg will begin skating with the team Saturday morning prior to Colorado's afternoon game against Boston. He last played in the NHL for the Avalanche during the 2007-08 season, putting up 14 points in nine regular-season games and 5 points in seven playoff games.

Injuries, including numerous surgeries to his foot and ankle, have cut short Forsberg's NHL career on several occasions.

A first-round pick by the Flyers in the 1991 Entry Draft who was then dealt to the Nordiques as part of the blockbuster Eric Lindros trade, Forsberg has 249 goals and 885 points in 706 regular-season games with Quebec, Colorado, Philadelphia and Nashville. He also has 64 goals and 171 points in 151 postseason games, winning Stanley Cups with the Avalanche in 1996 and 2001.

While some of the Avalanche like Milan Hejduk and Paul Stastny have played with Forsberg in the past, taking the ice with him -- even for practice -- will be a new experience for younger players like second-year center Matt Duchene.

"So excited to skate with one of my boyhood idols, Peter Forsberg. One of the most surreal things ever," Duchene wrote on Twitter.

[troy 12]

Except Brett Favre is an egotistical prick who ended up shitting on pretty much all the NFL franchises he played for. Forsberg doesn't manufacture any of the attention he draws, he just desperately wants to play hockey at its highest level. I think you do Foppa a giant disservice by even suggesting that comparison.

[Krev 86]

Except Brett Favre is an egotistical prick who ended up shitting on pretty much all the NFL franchises he played for. Forsberg doesn't manufacture any of the attention he draws, he just desperately wants to play hockey at its highest level. I think you do Foppa a giant disservice by even suggesting that comparison.

Exactly. If he wants to play, then more power to him. Finding a way to play the game he loves... nothing wrong with that.

[camhockey16 5]

Except Brett Favre is an egotistical prick who ended up shitting on pretty much all the NFL franchises he played for. Forsberg doesn't manufacture any of the attention he draws, he just desperately wants to play hockey at its highest level. I think you do Foppa a giant disservice by even suggesting that comparison.

didn't mean they were similar reputation-wise, i just meant with the "i'm retired" "i'm back" and then "i'm retired" flip/flopping. i'm all for foppa doing what he loves - i guess i just get tired of hearing someone is attempting a comeback after like the 3rd or 4th time.

[troy 12]

Towards the end of his second tenure in the Flyers' organization it was almost heart-wrenching seeing what he dealt with on literally on a day-to-day basis. Constant doctor visits, skate manipulations and the subsequent setbacks. The frustration he felt trying to compete below his capabilities was obvious to anyone watching him, I can't even fathom what he actually felt. Unfortunately this casts a pall over his teams, so I hope he practices with the Avs for as long as it takes until he is positive that he can or can not play.

[chippa13 1844]

Dollars to donuts he doesn't last more than 2 weeks.

[hamstercaster 2]

Correct me if I'm wrong but he never really retired. As far as I can remember he's tried his hardest at fixing his foot problem in the hope to return to the NHL one day. I'm partly biased because he's my all time favorite player even though I never was a Nordiques or Avs fan. IMO, he has been one of the most complete if not the most complete player to ever play the game. He had speed, very good puck handling, shooting, passing and hitting skills on top of being very good defensively. If his foot problems are a thing of the past I think that he will finish the season in Colorado and help them in the playoffs should they qualify. On top of that he does not have to clear waivers as he hasn't played in Europe so far this year.

[Agent1.8 1]

I hope he makes it back, Foppa's an amazing talent and I think it would be a great comeback story.

[Chadd 916]

Except Brett Favre is an egotistical prick who ended up shitting on pretty much all the NFL franchises he played for. Forsberg doesn't manufacture any of the attention he draws, he just desperately wants to play hockey at its highest level. I think you do Foppa a giant disservice by even suggesting that comparison.

He was a great player, but if he can't play he should stop telling teams he can and cashing their checks while he sits in the stands. He does this stuff every year and there are always teams that come around hoping this is finally the year he is able to come back and play at a fraction of the level he used to play. Why is it that he always waits until just before the trade deadline before making an announcement or skating with a pro team? It's never a month before training camp or at the start of the season. The smart teams won't pay any attention to his media circus this year.

Dollars to donuts he doesn't last more than 2 weeks.

As long as they don't offer him a contract in those two weeks, they should be fine.

[stuie7 6]

didn't mean they were similar reputation-wise, i just meant with the "i'm retired" "i'm back" and then "i'm retired" flip/flopping.

He's never retired, he just keeps trying. You see a lot of comments on TSN comparing him to Favre, I know nothing of what you call Football, but I believe these situations are completely different..? Forsberg has been battling with injuries, he's never decided not to play because he didn't really want to. He's not been playing because he cant play, it's never been his choice to make.

He was a great player, but if he can't play he should stop telling teams he can and cashing their checks while he sits in the stands.

He played half a season in the SEL for MODO last year and along with Naslund he did it for free. You can guarantee he wont be demanding any big money, I wouldn't expect him to play in the NHL for free, but I would't be surprised if he got paid on an per appearance or bonus basis, however I'm not sure this happens in the NHL..? It happens in other pro-sports.

[17D1998 1]

Good news, I always liked Forsberg. Now I'm waiting for Kariya's comeback

[EBondo 233]

Multiple videos up of him right now. http://blogs.denverpost.com/avs/2011/01/22/peter-forsbergs-first-skate-jan-22/6010/

I noticed that in the drills, he isn't doing any hard stops and turns like Konowalchuk is doing...makes me wonder. I would love to see Foppa back, but only if he's healthy.

[Hradsky 1]

Hes such a pleasure to watch, just skating around...beauty

[troy 12]

He was a great player, but if he can't play he should stop telling teams he can and cashing their checks while he sits in the stands. He does this stuff every year and there are always teams that come around hoping this is finally the year he is able to come back and play at a fraction of the level he used to play. Why is it that he always waits until just before the trade deadline before making an announcement or skating with a pro team? It's never a month before training camp or at the start of the season. The smart teams won't pay any attention to his media circus this year.

As long as they don't offer him a contract in those two weeks, they should be fine.

I think the teams are more hopeful than Foppa that he can play. It's not like he showed up in Colorado demanding to practice with the team. And would you like him to play for free?

[Chadd 916]

I think the teams are more hopeful than Foppa that he can play. It's not like he showed up in Colorado demanding to practice with the team. And would you like him to play for free?

He's the one that tells them he can play and demands million+ dollar contracts. It's not like he has taken a contract for the minimum with incentives. And like I said, it's not like he does this stuff at the start of the season, it's always right before the deadline.

[troy 12]

Demands, negotiates, meh. These teams don't have to sign him. And I think similar to what Niedermayer and Selanne did, there's really no benefit for him to start a year with a team. Plus signing later in the season prorates his million dollar plus contract.

[psh 25]

He's the one that tells them he can play and demands million+ dollar contracts. It's not like he has taken a contract for the minimum with incentives. And like I said, it's not like he does this stuff at the start of the season, it's always right before the deadline.

This strikes me as unpersuasive, if not ill informed.

1. Were Forsberg to sign for a minimum contract, you can be sure there would be cries across the league about salary cap manipulation and an investigation along the lines of the Kovalchuk fiasco.

2. More importantly, Forsberg is among the last against whom allegations of greed and exploitative contract negotiations can credibly be leveled. Following the year he burst his spleen, he was scheduled to be paid $10M, the biggest contract in the NHL. Being injured, he was entitled to collect on that contract, whether he played or not. Instead, he went home, had his battery of surgeries, and sat out the season to recover. Rather than collect his $10M, he voluntarily waived his salary. I'm sure it's not unprecedented, but I can't think of another superstar who has done that.

[Chadd 916]

This strikes me as unpersuasive, if not ill informed.

1. Were Forsberg to sign for a minimum contract, you can be sure there would be cries across the league about salary cap manipulation and an investigation along the lines of the Kovalchuk fiasco.

2. More importantly, Forsberg is among the last against whom allegations of greed and exploitative contract negotiations can credibly be leveled. Following the year he burst his spleen, he was scheduled to be paid $10M, the biggest contract in the NHL. Being injured, he was entitled to collect on that contract, whether he played or not. Instead, he went home, had his battery of surgeries, and sat out the season to recover. Rather than collect his $10M, he voluntarily waived his salary. I'm sure it's not unprecedented, but I can't think of another superstar who has done that.

Given the number of games he has missed, I believe he qualifies for an incentive based contract. Comparing someone signing a one-year minimum salary or incentive based contract to the Kovalchuk contract is the epitome of ill-informed and unpersuasive.

No doubt his actions a decade or so ago were commendable. Lately, not so much.

Demands, negotiates, meh. These teams don't have to sign him. And I think similar to what Niedermayer and Selanne did, there's really no benefit for him to start a year with a team. Plus signing later in the season prorates his million dollar plus contract.

Anyone that signs him is out of their mind at this point. I would be shocked if it happens and he puts up good numbers.

[maxamillion 3]

posted this in the wrong thread

Foppa, IN MY OPINION, is the greatest, fundamentally sound, two way hockey player to ever lace them up. He could play both sides of the puck with such ferocity, and I've never seen a stronger skater than Forsberg. Watching him play is the reason I started playing hockey as a kid, and I tried to mimmick his moves in street hockey for years. I really wish he could get everything sorted out because you can tell it's all he wants to be able to do.

[Chadd 916]

posted this in the wrong thread

Foppa, IN MY OPINION, is the greatest, fundamentally sound, two way hockey player to ever lace them up. He could play both sides of the puck with such ferocity, and I've never seen a stronger skater than Forsberg. Watching him play is the reason I started playing hockey as a kid, and I tried to mimmick his moves in street hockey for years. I really wish he could get everything sorted out because you can tell it's all he wants to be able to do.

One of the best divers too. One shift he has three guys hanging off him, the next shift a tiny bump sends him flying.

[psh 25]

One of the best divers too. One shift he has three guys hanging off him, the next shift a tiny bump sends him flying.

Speaking of ill informed and unpersuasive, when the subject of what you call a "dive" has had a minimum of 10 surgeries on one ankle and many surgeries on the other, the instance of actual dives is in all probability miniscule. Now that we know how bad those ankles were going back more than seven years, to continue to call Forsberg a diver shines quite a klieglight on your own character. A pathetic spectacle it is.

When people bemoan a Forsberg comeback or focus on Crosby's "whining" rather than his whole game, it's hard not to see them as motivated more by team fan-dom or self manufactured villian hatred rather than appreciation of the game itself. Last time Forsberg touched NHL ice he put up 14 points in 9 games, playing on a clearly hobbled body. The only player in the league this year scoring at that clip is, coincidentally, Crosby. Let's take off the blinders, see how this plays out, and enjoy excellence in the game wherever we find it.

[ibeck 38]

I picked this up from Bob McKenzie: Since he didn't play in europe this year he doesn't have to go through waivers like nabokov, wellwood, or svatos. Imagine not playing for half a season, plus all the foot problems in order to come back to the NHL and try and win a cup, such a beauty forsberg is.

[twiztidwrista10 3]

Speaking of ill informed and unpersuasive, when the subject of what you call a "dive" has had a minimum of 10 surgeries on one ankle and many surgeries on the other, the instance of actual dives is in all probability miniscule. Now that we know how bad those ankles were going back more than seven years, to continue to call Forsberg a diver shines quite a klieglight on your own character. A pathetic spectacle it is.

When people bemoan a Forsberg comeback or focus on Crosby's "whining" rather than his whole game, it's hard not to see them as motivated more by team fan-dom or self manufactured villian hatred rather than appreciation of the game itself. Last time Forsberg touched NHL ice he put up 14 points in 9 games, playing on a clearly hobbled body. The only player in the league this year scoring at that clip is, coincidentally, Crosby. Let's take off the blinders, see how this plays out, and enjoy excellence in the game wherever we find it.

+1, well put.

[Jarick 5]

So is he skating in the MLX? Wonder what's different this time for him. I wasn't a big hockey guy before the lockout so I never really got to see him in his prime...shame.

[Krev 86]

So is he skating in the MLX? Wonder what's different this time for him. I wasn't a big hockey guy before the lockout so I never really got to see him in his prime...shame.

Nope. Skating in a XXXX on one foot, and X:60's on the other.