Is There More To Forsberg Not Returning?

Posted by admin on 19th, 2008

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We finally have an end to the ongoing Peter Forsberg saga.

Today it was announced by Forsberg’s agent, Don Baizley, that Forsberg has chosen not to return to the NHL this season, due to him not having enough confidence that his ankle / foot injuries are up to NHL standards.

To quote Yahoo Sports;

His agent, Don Baizley, told teams Forsberg did not have enough confidence in the strength of his surgically repaired right foot to play this season.

“He’s been hopeful that he would get the level of confidence that he needed, but he can’t,” Baizley said by phone. “I don’t know how close or how far away he feels. He was hopeful up until this weekend that he would be able to do it.”
- Yahoo Sports

As one who never shy’s away from controversy, i have to ask the question; is this the real reason Forsberg has chosen not to return to the NHL?

Numerous news sources have reported that there was a big race on to sign Forsberg, and that at least 8 different teams were trying to get him signed.  Dallas, Detroit, Calgary, Ottawa, Colorado, Philadelphia & Nashville to name just a few.

We know that Forsberg turned down offers from Dallas and Nashville recently, the reason is rumoured to be that they did not offer enough money.  In fact, sources claim that Forsberg, who is a high-risk injury player was asking for $5 million for next year and $2 million for the remainder of this year.  In the world of the Salary cap, that kind of money for a semi-broken, often injured player is, in a word, crazy.

Is there a chance then, that due to offers from NHL teams being “less than desirable” for Forsberg, he has chosen to wait out the rest of the year and try his hand at the Free Agent market during the off season.

This hockey fan definitely thinks this is something to ponder.


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Free Agency (ab)Use

Posted by admin on 8th, 2008

The 2008-2009 NHL season will go down in the history books as one of controversy and debate, and nothing sparks greater debate this season that the use of the Free Agency Market.

At the center of many of these debates are the defending champions, the Ahaheim Ducks and their re-signing of Teemu Selanne and Scott Neidermayer.  Neidermayer of course was not a free agent, and not really valid in discussion.

Selanne however has created quite an uproar among fans over the last few weeks.  Added to that we now have news that Peter Forsberg wants back in the NHL and is once again fresh meat hanging in the free agency marketplace.

The great debate centers around a single question.

Should free agents who have “retired” or are “thinking about retiring”, who don’t sign with a team at the start of the season be allowed to jump back into the league mid-season when they get the urge? 

Of course, let’s be honest here.  The reason fans are so upset isn’t that Selanne has returned.   It’s the way that both Selanne and Neidermayer waited until such a time that the Ducks could fit them into the salary cap.   To many, this is seen as using the salary cap in a way that is neither ethical nor right.

Forsberg is a different story however, as his decision not to play this season was not by choice, but by force due to injuries.  So should he be granted asylum to this argument?

Something to ponder, that’s for sure.


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