Forsberg

[Jeff O Rocks]

Forsberg Named Sporting News Player Of The Year

POSTED: 11:30 a.m. EDT June 3, 2003
UPDATED: 11:32 a.m. EDT June 3, 2003

ST. LOUIS -- Colorado Avalanche center Peter Forsberg is the Sporting News NHL player of the year.

The Saint Louis-based publication announced the award Tuesday.

Forsberg led the league in scoring after missing the entire previous regular season with injuries. He beat Vancouver's Markus Naslund in voting among players.


Detroit winger Henrik Zetterberg was named rookie of the year. He beat out Saint Louis defenseman Barret Jackman.

Two people who led Minnesota's improbable run to the Western Conference finals were also honored. Wild coach Jacques Lemaire was named coach of the year. General manager Doug Risebrough was named executive of the year.

[Shell]

what a way to celebrate! :crazy:

Forsberg has minor surgery
Canadian Press
6/3/2003

DENVER (AP) - Colorado Avalanche centre Peter Forsberg has undergone minor surgery to drain fluid from an inflamed elbow, team officials said.

Forsberg noticed the inflammation during the world hockey championships that ended May 11.

``It was a minor procedure and Peter is fine,'' team spokesman Jean Martineau said Monday.

The news came on the same day that Forsberg was named player of the year by The Sporting News.

Forsberg had 29 goals and 77 assists as the Avalanche won a record ninth straight Northwest Division title. He also led the NHL with a plus-52.

Forsberg missed all of the 2001-2002 season after having his spleen removed and surgeries on both ankles.

He received 101 of 263 votes cast by players, while Vancouver's Markus Naslund was second with 94 votes.

Forsberg, the NHL scoring leader for the season, will be eligible for restricted free agency July 1.

[Shell]

Foppa set to decide
Avs expecting center to return
By Adrian Dater, Denver Post Sports Writer

With his July 1 eligibility for restricted free agency looming, Peter Forsberg is strongly leaning toward announcing within the next week his intention to return to the Avalanche next season.

Several friends and teammates said the NHL's recently crowned MVP will confirm his return soon but would not comment publicly, respecting Forsberg's desire to make the announcement.

Forsberg's return most likely would be under a one-year deal that would take him up to the September 2004 expiration of the NHL's collective bargaining agreement. An extended lockout and work stoppage is considered likely as league officials seek some form of cost certainty, in the form of a salary cap or luxury taxes.

At that point, if he isn't under contract to the Avalanche, Forsberg would have the option of returning to Sweden to play for his hometown team, MoDo, in the Swedish Elite League.

Those close to Forsberg said his passion for the game has been reinforced during the two months since the Avs' first-round elimination from the playoffs. After fighting injuries the past few years, he feels healthy and encouraged by the best season of his career, those friends said.

Forsberg has been dating a University of Denver law student for nearly two years, and has taken her for several visits to his family in Sweden. She has one year of law school remaining.

Jean Martineau, the Avalanche director of media relations, said although the team has not been officially notified of Forsberg's intentions, "there is no indication for us to believe that he won't be back."

Forsberg is in his hometown of Ornskoldsvik, Sweden. Last weekend he told reporters he would not comment on his plans.

Avs captain Joe Sakic, along with teammate Milan Hejduk, have said Forsberg would play another season. Before he does, however, he needs to sign a new contract, whether that's under terms of a "qualifying" offer of 110 percent of last year's salary or a negotiated deal. If he doesn't sign a new deal before July 1, Forsberg will become a restricted free agent.

Forsberg's agent, Don Baizley, could not be reached Tuesday.

[Shell]

and it's official...

Forsberg signs one year deal
Canadian Press
6/25/2003

DENVER (CP) - Hart Trophy winner Peter Forsberg will be back for at least another season with the Avalanche after signing a one-year contract Wednesday.

Terms were not announced but the contract would have to worth at least $9.5 million US, which he earned last season. A team spokesman said the one-year deal was not a qualifying offer but a new contract.

The one-year deal puts an end to rumours that Forsberg was going to play in the Swedish League next season.

``As everyone knows, Peter is an important part of our team and we are thrilled that he has decided to commit to our hockey club,'' Avalanche general manager Pierre Lacroix said in a statement. ``He is a world-class athlete and we know our fans will be delighted that he will be skating in front of them next season.''

Forsberg, who turns 30 on July 20, led the NHL with 106 points (29-77) last season, capturing his first career Art Ross Trophy. Forsberg also tied for the league lead with a plus-52 rating.

``I'm excited to be staying in Colorado and looking forward to the 2003-04 season,'' Forsberg said in a statement. ``I'm truly enjoying myself in Denver. The team has had tremendous success since 1995 and I'm expecting a very exciting and successful season. It will be challenging and everyone should be up for it.''

Forsberg, who has 198 goals and 488 assists in 541 career regular-season games, has expressed a desire to one day play at home in Sweden and that chance may come in 2004-05 if the NHL season is wiped out by a labour war.

[Shell]

Jeeeeze... 11 mill.. tied at the top with Jagr

Jun. 26, 2003. 01:00 AM
Forsberg gets $11 million for a year
Avalanche star joins Jagr as top-paid players

Deal ends rumours he would play in Swedish League

Hart Trophy winner Peter Forsberg will be back for at least another season, but the Colorado Avalanche had to make him one of the NHL's top-paid players to keep him.

Forsberg signed a one-year, $11 million (all figures U.S.) contract yesterday, the same league-best amount Washington's Jaromir Jagr will earn next season.

The Avs could have given Forsberg a qualifying offer for $9.5 million, which he made last year, but chose instead to give him a raise.

The deal puts an end to rumours that Forsberg was going to play in the Swedish League next season.

Forsberg, who turns 30 on July 20, led the NHL with 106 points (29-77) last season, capturing his first career Art Ross Trophy. Forsberg also tied for the league lead with a plus-52 rating.

"I'm excited to be staying in Colorado and looking forward to the 2003-04 season," Fors- berg said in a statement. "I'm truly enjoying myself in Denver. The team has had tremendous success since 1995 and I'm expecting a very exciting and successful season. It will be challenging and everyone should be up for it."

[Shell]

Forsberg, Deadmarsh share laugh
By Adrian Dater
Denver Post Sports Writer

LAS VEGAS - Peter Forsberg had just given Las Vegas its first fistfight since Oscar De La Hoya vs. Sugar Shane Mosley, but you never would have known it after Saturday's Avalanche exhibition against the Los Angeles Kings.

While fans at the MGM Grand Garden Arena still were buzzing about Forsberg's first fight as an NHL player, he chatted amiably with old friend Adam Deadmarsh in the hallway between the teams' dressing rooms.

"You scrapper, you," Deadmarsh told Forsberg, who laughed with his former teammate, who fought many times on his behalf during their Avalanche days.

That Forsberg dropped the gloves and Peter Worrell did not in his first game with the Avs was just one of the surprises of the game, played in front of a sellout crowd of more than 12,000. Fighting was just about the one thing Forsberg hadn't done in his 10-year career, although he has been involved in many tussles and shoving matches.

Forsberg fought Kings forward Sean Avery in the third period after throwing a punch at him in the first period. Is pugilism a preview of his season to come?

"No, I don't think so," Forsberg said with a laugh. "I don't think (Worrell) has anything to worry about."

Forsberg actually was laughing for part of his brief bout with Avery, a former Detroit Red Wing known for his antagonizing playing style. The punches from both sides in the bout were relatively harmless, before it was broken up by Avalanche winger Bates Battaglia.

"It wasn't much," Forsberg said. "We had been going at it pretty good the whole game. But that's hockey."

The game featured 37 penalties and several misconducts. Battaglia, being the third man in, received a game-misconduct. Even goalie David Aebischer got a roughing minor.

The Avs-Kings rivalry has gotten nastier in recent years. Two playoff series in the past three years, both won by Colorado in seven games, and the lasting bitterness from Kings fans toward expatriate Rob Blake have made for some heated games. At the end of last season, a few Avs players, including Derek Morris and Scott Parker, tried to go after a fan in the stands at Los Angeles' Staples Center who was heckling Blake and tossing ice.

[SouthernHockeyChick]

I hope he kicked Avery's ass. I hate that kid. :roll:

[Shell]

It wasn't much of a bout. Forsberg was able to laugh about it, saying he didn't land a punch during the brief scuffle.