With injuries should the Avalanche court Peter Forsberg one more time?
By John Livingston | November 29, 2009
After last night’s 3-2 shoot-out loss to the Minnesota Wild the Colorado Avalanche lost a lot than their second game in as many days to the Wild. Forward David Jones went down with a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee when the Wild’s Chuck Kobasew fell into him. Jones had played great hockey early on in the season playing on the top-line and he was second on the team with 10 goals behind Milan Hejduk’s 11. With multiple injuries including to Hejduk and now Jones injury, that is supposed to keep him out for at least 4 months, is it possible that the Avalanche could make an offer to Peter Forsberg?
Forsberg has 7 goals and 7 assists in just 7 games right now playing for his native Sweden team Modo in Ornskoldsvik. Forsberg contemplated returning to the NHL last January but a lingering foot injury had still not recovered enough to allow him to do so. At the time, Forsberg and his agent, Don Baizley, did not rule out a possible return for this 2009-2010 season. With a healthy and productive Forsberg back on the ice in Sweden and injuries of their own, the Avalanche have to be curious in the legend.
Forsberg last made a return mid-season to rejoin the Avalanche in the 2007-2008 season but was limited to just 9 games of action due to the foot injury. He scored just 1 goal in that time but was highly productive with 14 assists as he got re-adjusted to NHL play. Now two years removed from the injury it seems possible that the Avs could express some interest in their former all-star forward, if he is willing to listen.
Forsberg was recently joined on his hometown team by his childhood friend and fellow NHL All-Star Markus Naslund. If Forsberg thinks that his time in the NHL is over, then it is safe to say he would be completely satisified to stay in his native land and play for his current club with Naslund. However, Naslund himself is just one year removed from the NHL and until a few weeks ago had not skated since his New York Rangers were bounced from last years playoffs. It is reasonable to think that another team might come asking for the services of Naslund, too, and a return to the NHL for him could also open the door for Forsberg to follow his friend back to North America.
A healthy and able Forsberg would be a perfect fit right now for the Avs who have impressed and even surprised many around the NHL with their great play early in the season. With a true #1 goalie now for the first time in years in Craig Anderson and great play from the Avs youngsters, the Avs have what it takes to get back and compete in the playoffs. The Avs are currently second in the Northwest Division and are fourth in the Western Conference with 33 points, just five behind the San Jose Sharks for the lead in the conference.
While certainly it will be hard for anyone to fill the role Jones has played thus far in the season, Forsberg could bring his veteran leadership and intelligence to make plays on the ice. With the retirement of long time captain Joe Sakic, one of the Avs few remaining links to the Stanley Cup days has been Captain Adam Foote. Foote has also been injured at times this year but the Avs hope with a healthy Foote that they will also have the defensive intensity to compete late in the season. According to Yahoo Sports Rumors Forsberg is interested in returning to the NHL and several teams have already expressed interest this past month, the Avalanche included.
Surely Forsberg would only want to come back if there was something worth playing for and the Avalanche have already shown early this year that there will be plenty to lace up for in 2010. Fans in Colorado can still hope that Forsberg will at least test his abilities and see if he is ready for a comeback and one thing is certain: seeing 21 on the ice again in the Pepsi Center would still put fans in the seats and would help bring in fans that still do not realize that the Avs are on their way back.
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Time: November 29, 2009, 12:31 pm
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Comment from Bill
Time: November 29, 2009, 12:38 pm
This is impossible, for the AVS to sign him he would have to clear waivers before the avs could sign him, meaning every team would have a chance to sign him before the avs would own his rights. Not going to happen.
Comment from John Livingston
Time: November 29, 2009, 12:44 pm
umm no it is not impossible…if it was impossible they wouldnt waste money sending scouts out to check on him…..
http://sports.yahoo.com/nhl/rumors/post/Philadelphia-Flyers-scouting-Peter-Forsberg?urn=nhl,199831
Comment from Bill
Time: November 29, 2009, 1:21 pm
I don’t think you understand how it works with a player who plays a game in Europe, any player who plays a game in Europe past the start of the NHL’s regular season must then clear waivers if he wishes to return to the NHL.Are you saying the Avs are going to sign him, he will clear waivers, and then end up with the Avs? That is impossible.
Comment from John Livingston
Time: November 29, 2009, 1:30 pm
I dont think that you are understanding the Avs interest in the player…a hockey team is not going to spend money to scout a player that there is zero chance at getting. I am saying that it is possible the Avs will show interest in the player and I am on a fan blog speculating that it is POSSIBLE that the Avs will consider this as an option…and yes with Forsberg’s age and injury history it is very possible that if other teams are satisfied with their roster that they would not pursue him, with the obvious exceptions in the above link. I am well aware of how the waiver system works and I am also well aware that many NHL teams would not be willing to sign an aging superstar who has been injury prone but with his history with the Avalanche and interest in coming back it could be a unique scenario that works out for both sides.
Comment from Terry
Time: November 29, 2009, 6:34 pm
You don’t seem to understand that the scouting of Forsberg took place before he had played in the Swedish Elite league. He was playing in a preseason tournament when this scouting took place. By playing in the SEL even one game this year invokes the need to clear waivers before the Avs could sign him.
Nice attempt not to look like an idiot by claiming you “fully understand” the waiver process.
One more thing..Forsberg has never retired so there was no need for him to come out of retirement to play for his home towm team.
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