Forsberg won't return to NHL this year

Dannomyte · #1 02-18-2008, 12:22 PM

TSN.ca Staff

2/18/2008 2:51:37 PM

Peter Forsberg is not coming back to the NHL.

Forsberg's agent Don Baizley has begun advising NHL teams that Forsberg doesn't have enough confidence in his wonky foot to commit to a return to the league this season.

''The prospect of Peter having enough confidence in the foot-skate issue to commit to being able to play in the NHL this season isn't where it needs to be at this moment,'' Baizley told TSN. ''As a result, teams are being told it is unlikely he will be able to commit to return to the NHL this season.''

The five-time All-Star played in 57 games in 2006-07 with the Philadelphia Flyers and the Nashville Predators last season, posting 13 goals and 55 points. He was dealt to the Predators at the trade deadline for Scottie Upshall, Ryan Parent and first and third-round draft picks in 2007.

Prior to the trade, Forsberg was limited to 40 games with the Flyers because of a lingering foot injury, but still managed to register 11 goals and 40 points. He has been slowed by injuries over the last few seasons, undergoing surgery on both ankles last summer.

Forsberg was originally drafted sixth overall by the Flyers in the 1991 Entry Draft. He was dealt to the Quebec Nordiques in 1992 as part of a blockbuster deal that saw Philadelphia acquire centre Eric Lindros.

In his first NHL season, Forsberg won the Calder Trophy as the league's top rookie, scoring 50 points in 47 games.

In ten seasons with the Nordiques and Avalanche, he recorded 216 goals and 741 points. He won the Stanley Cup twice with the Avalanche (1996 and 2001) and won the Hart Trophy as the league's most valuable player in 2003 when he recorded 106 points in 75 games.

In August of 2005, Forsberg returned to the team that drafted him when he signed a two-year $11.5-million contract with the Flyers.

The six-foot, 205-pound centre has played in 697 regular-season games over his 12-year career, recording 248 goals and 871 points.

He is also a veteran of international play, having represented Sweden at four Winter Olympics (1994, 1998, 2002 and 2006) - winning gold twice. He's played in five World Championships (1992, 1993, 1998, 2003 and 2004), two World Cups (1996 and 2004), and two World Junior Championships (1992 and 1993).

More to follow.

http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/news_story/?ID=229969&hubname=nhl

RampantWing · #2 02-18-2008, 12:41 PM

That was fast, Danno--I thought I was going to be the first.

NOW we should see some trades. :wink:

ThomasTomasz · #3 02-18-2008, 03:20 PM

We'll definitely see some moves. Mats Sundin is also not expected to waive his NTC, so we'll see the offers intensify for Marian Hossa, and some more interests will be in second-tier players like Michael Ryder. It's disappointing that Foppa, one very talented player, will not be returning due to injury. It's just another one in a long list for him.

PuckWizard · #4 02-19-2008, 11:01 AM

I'm really upset by this. Obviously I would have loved to have seen Foppa back in the orange and black, but even if he wasn't going to be a Flyer I would have at least liked to see him play somewhere. He's such an unbelievable talent, and it's just really unfortunate that we won't be able to watch him in the NHL anymore. The bottom line I guess is that I hope he's happy in retirement.

MookStunna · #5 02-19-2008, 11:46 AM

Good!

Anyone who did end up signing him really didn't know what they would be getting. Should he be healthy enough next year, so be it. It's amazing that he's tried over 30 different skates on, and none of them work.

I agree that movement will now start happening in the NHL. Expect the Avs to deal Liles, and maybe Brunette, Wolski, and even Hejduk...

I will say this one more time, a healthy Forsberg is the best thing to watch in the NHL. You can have your #87, or even Oveckin. They can't shake a stick at what Forsberg can do on both sides of the ice.

PuckWizard · #6 02-19-2008, 11:58 AM

Quote:

I will say this one more time, a healthy Forsberg is the best thing to watch in the NHL. You can have your #87, or even Oveckin. They can't shake a stick at what Forsberg can do on both sides of the ice.

I'm with you on that, although I will say that Ovechkin and Malkin are the closest things to it. It's a shame, because people know he was a great player, but few appreciate how great he really was. He'll probably always be remembered a lot like Pavel Bure. An unbelievable talent that just could never stay healthy. Who knows what would have been if he was healthy, because like you said, he was the best in the world when he was.

MookStunna · #7 02-19-2008, 12:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PuckWizard

Quote:

I will say this one more time, a healthy Forsberg is the best thing to watch in the NHL. You can have your #87, or even Oveckin. They can't shake a stick at what Forsberg can do on both sides of the ice.

I'm with you on that, although I will say that Ovechkin and Malkin are the closest things to it. It's a shame, because people know he was a great player, but few appreciate how great he really was. He'll probably always be remembered a lot like Pavel Bure. An unbelievable talent that just could never stay healthy. Who knows what would have been if he was healthy, because like you said, he was the best in the world when he was.

He also did manage two cups in Colorado.
I loved how he would initiate contact with the D when he had the puck. Who does that now? If anyone does, I assure you, it's not being done right...

PuckWizard · #8 02-19-2008, 12:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fiveminutemajor

Quote:

Originally Posted by PuckWizard

Quote:

I will say this one more time, a healthy Forsberg is the best thing to watch in the NHL. You can have your #87, or even Oveckin. They can't shake a stick at what Forsberg can do on both sides of the ice.

I'm with you on that, although I will say that Ovechkin and Malkin are the closest things to it. It's a shame, because people know he was a great player, but few appreciate how great he really was. He'll probably always be remembered a lot like Pavel Bure. An unbelievable talent that just could never stay healthy. Who knows what would have been if he was healthy, because like you said, he was the best in the world when he was.

He also did manage two cups in Colorado.
I loved how he would initiate contact with the D when he had the puck. Who does that now? If anyone does, I assure you, it's not being done right...

Well I disagree there. Ovechkin initiates contact when he has the puck. That's why I said Ovechkin, along with Malkin to an extent, are the closest thing to a modern day Forsberg. Forsberg's ability to elevate his game to an almost inhuman level when they counted the most is what seperates him from Ovechkin right now. I'm not saying Ovechkin can't do that, but he still has to prove it.

MookStunna · #9 02-19-2008, 12:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PuckWizard

Quote:

Originally Posted by fiveminutemajor

Quote:

Originally Posted by PuckWizard

Quote:

I will say this one more time, a healthy Forsberg is the best thing to watch in the NHL. You can have your #87, or even Oveckin. They can't shake a stick at what Forsberg can do on both sides of the ice.

I'm with you on that, although I will say that Ovechkin and Malkin are the closest things to it. It's a shame, because people know he was a great player, but few appreciate how great he really was. He'll probably always be remembered a lot like Pavel Bure. An unbelievable talent that just could never stay healthy. Who knows what would have been if he was healthy, because like you said, he was the best in the world when he was.

He also did manage two cups in Colorado.
I loved how he would initiate contact with the D when he had the puck. Who does that now? If anyone does, I assure you, it's not being done right...

Well I disagree there. Ovechkin initiates contact when he has the puck. That's why I said Ovechkin, along with Malkin to an extent, are the closest thing to a modern day Forsberg. Forsberg's ability to elevate his game to an almost inhuman level when they counted the most is what seperates him from Ovechkin right now. I'm not saying Ovechkin can't do that, but he still has to prove it.

That's what I was trying to say in not so many words. No matter who does it now, in my eyes, it's not the "right" way. the overall way Forsberg would just crush people while possessing the puck was awesome. I have a lot of respest for Ovechkin. Not only does he play O, and D, but when he doesn't have the puck, he does the right things, and isn't afraid to go fisties when needed.

ThomasTomasz · #10 02-19-2008, 01:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PuckWizard

Quote:

Originally Posted by fiveminutemajor

Quote:

Originally Posted by PuckWizard

Quote:

I will say this one more time, a healthy Forsberg is the best thing to watch in the NHL. You can have your #87, or even Oveckin. They can't shake a stick at what Forsberg can do on both sides of the ice.

I'm with you on that, although I will say that Ovechkin and Malkin are the closest things to it. It's a shame, because people know he was a great player, but few appreciate how great he really was. He'll probably always be remembered a lot like Pavel Bure. An unbelievable talent that just could never stay healthy. Who knows what would have been if he was healthy, because like you said, he was the best in the world when he was.

He also did manage two cups in Colorado.
I loved how he would initiate contact with the D when he had the puck. Who does that now? If anyone does, I assure you, it's not being done right...

Well I disagree there. Ovechkin initiates contact when he has the puck. That's why I said Ovechkin, along with Malkin to an extent, are the closest thing to a modern day Forsberg. Forsberg's ability to elevate his game to an almost inhuman level when they counted the most is what seperates him from Ovechkin right now. I'm not saying Ovechkin can't do that, but he still has to prove it.

That's why us Caps fans can't wait until we get in the playoffs. He's had quite a few games where he has tied the score to get us to OT, or in OT, netted the winning goal, but I want to see Ovechkin down the stretch, and get this team into the playoffs and then have success in the postseason. That is just about the only question left on Ovechkin at this point.