04/19/24
February 03, 2008
Colorado wouldn't mind having Peter the Great back.: According to ESPN, Forsberg will not play for Modo next season and is training for a Feb. 26 return to the NHL.
Smart money is on the Flyers landing him. And Holmgren could've won GM of the year even before a Forsberg signing, if his team hadn't developed a collective case of suspendmeitus.
posted by garfield at 11:53 AM on February 04, 2008
Smart money is on the Flyers landing him. I don't know about that. The Avs have cap money to spare, Forsberg still has a condo in Colorado, and Sakic can be pretty convincing at times...
posted by cobrajet at 01:03 PM on February 04, 2008
Peter doesn't want to come back and lead a team. He wants to be the piece of the puzzle that puts a team over the top. With all the Avs injuries, Forsberg would be front and center without the top flite supporting cast he would prefer. If Sakic were healthy and having a great season, it would be different. But he isn't. And somehow Forsberg really respects the club that traded him away all those years ago, and again last year. Whatever floats your bat.
posted by garfield at 02:07 PM on February 04, 2008
Except that Sakic isn't playing and niether is Ryan Smyth. Colorado is going to struggle to make the playoffs and Forsberg has some unfinished business in Philly. Have to say, though, I still don't see the Flyers in the real elite with or without Forsberg. Y'all riding some Marty Biron to the Cup? (Well - stranger things have happened -coughcamwardcough.) And the line of Gagne, Briere and Forsberg will be a good line - but hardly the best in hockey.
posted by WeedyMcSmokey at 02:17 PM on February 04, 2008
Biron/Tiittykaka tandem could get hot. And I don't think anyone wants to play Philly in the first round. There will be a physical toll paid against Philly higher than other clubs.
posted by garfield at 02:29 PM on February 04, 2008
And the line of Gagne, Briere and Forsberg will be a good line - but hardly the best in hockey. Just a little fact to attempt to support my claim. Gagne, Briere, Knuble (Timonen/Richards) is the best powerplay unit in the NHL. Forsberg is a powerplay specialist. Knuble leads the Flyers in powerplay goals. You put Forsberg in Knuble's place and you will have the most productive powerplay unit the NHL has seen in a long time.
posted by Prophite at 02:30 PM on February 04, 2008
Namath's Jets...Montana's niners and Manning's Giants...the best...
posted by OahuMonk at 04:26 PM on February 04, 2008
You put Forsberg in Knuble's place and you will have the most productive powerplay unit the NHL has seen in a long time. Providing Forsberg is up to speed. It is irrational to think that he will come back and be the player he used to be. He is very talented, but age and numerous injuries have taken their toll. Besides, it is only a matter of time before he suffers another nagging injury. Even with Forsberg I think the Devils still edge the Flyers out for the division title. Biron has done well for them but I don't think he has what it takes to lead them to the division title, let alone a Stanley Cup victory. Besides, everyone knows Lord Stanley is coming back to Hockeytown.
posted by Ying Yang Mafia at 05:49 PM on February 04, 2008
Age and injury have taken their toll upon Forsberg the Great and reduced him to Forsberg the Good(ok, maybe very good). That being said, his tenacity on the ice and his leadership in the locker room would elevate everyone's game and make Philadelphia a better team.
posted by sandskater at 12:17 AM on February 05, 2008
Not sure how close you've been following this story, but Paul Holmgren just got back from a trip to Sweden. The new best line in the NHL will be Gagne, Briere, Forsberg. Forsberg coupled with the best powerplay in the league equals serious trouble. If and when Homlgren can pull this off, it cements him as the GM of the year hands down.