Peter Forsberg
Encyclopedia
Peter Mattias "Foppa" Forsberg (ˈfɔʂːbærj; born July 20, 1973) is a retired Swedish
professional ice hockey
player and currently an assistant general manager
of Modo Sports
. Known for his on-ice vision and physical play, Forsberg is considered one of the most complete players of his generation. As of 2011, he stands tenth all-time in career points-per-game and fourth all-time in career assists-per-game in the NHL, only behind Wayne Gretzky
, Mario Lemieux
and Bobby Orr
.
His 19-year professional career includes 13 years in the National Hockey League
where he won two Stanley Cup
s with the Colorado Avalanche
, as well as numerous individual honors including the prestigious Hart Memorial Trophy
in 2003. Internationally, with the Swedish national team, he won two World Championships
and two Olympic hockey gold medals
. He is a member of the Triple Gold Club
and the only Swede who has won the three competitions twice. As of the end of the 2008–09 NHL season
, he is the fourth-highest all-time Swedish point scorer in the NHL regular season. Before his short-lived comeback season in 2011
, Forsberg never had a negative plus-minus rating, giving him an overall career rating of +238.
, who is the former coach of Modo Hockey
and the Swedish national team. Peter Forsberg has been coached by his father for a significant part of his career: the two teamed up from 1991 to 1994 in Modo Hockey, later for the national team in the 1996 World Cup of Hockey
, then for the 1998 Olympic ice hockey tournament
, and for the 1998 World Championship
, which Sweden won. They also own a Swedish development company named Forspro Company. The company co-funded the Modo Hockey team's new Swedbank Arena in Örnsköldsvik.
Independently of his father, Peter Forsberg also owned a company—Pforce AB—that imported and markets Crocs
shoes in his native Sweden since 2005. On July 14, 2010 Forsberg announced he was closing Pforce after taking heavy losses in 2009, 2010. Forsberg is also interested in harness racing
, and owns or has owned a few racing horses during the years, including Tsar d' Inverne and Adrian Chip. He has also invested money in a golf course named Veckefjärdens Golf Club in his native Örnsköldsvik.
Forsberg and fellow Swede Markus Näslund
founded Icebreakers
, an organization that brings together professional ice hockey players for exhibition games to raise money for charities.
Forsberg's idol while growing up was Håkan Loob
.
In late 2010, Forsberg became engaged to fellow Swede Nicole Nordin in Paris.
, the club of his hometown Örnsköldsvik
. During the course of the season, he debuted with the senior team that played in the Elitserien
, the highest-level professional ice hockey league in Sweden
, and scored an assist in his only game. In 1990–91, he scored 102 points in 39 games with the junior team and 17 points in 23 games with the senior team.
At the end of the season, Forsberg was drafted sixth overall by the Philadelphia Flyers
in the 1991 NHL Entry Draft
; he was the first European player taken that year. The draft pick was surprising because Forsberg was expected to be selected later in the draft. The Hockey News
had ranked Forsberg as the 25th best draft prospect in its 1991 draft preview, saying he was a "a solid second rounder who could move into the first". The pick was criticized by the Philadelphia media, prompting Flyers' General Manager Russ Farwell
and the team's chief European scout to reply that time would prove them right.
Eric Lindros
was the main attraction of the draft. He was drafted first overall by the Quebec Nordiques
but refused to sign a contract and, on advice from his mother, began a holdout that lasted over a year. On June 30, 1992, Forsberg was included in a deal that sent five players, two first round draft picks, and US$15 million to the Quebec Nordiques in exchange for Eric Lindros. In hindsight, the Lindros trade is seen as one of the most one-sided deals in sports history, and the deal became a major foundation for the Nordiques/Avalanche franchise's success over the next decade.
Forsberg remained in Sweden, playing for Modo for the following three years. In 1993 the team was eliminated in the playoffs quarterfinals against Malmö
, and Forsberg won the Golden Puck
for best Swedish ice hockey player of the year and the Golden Helmet
for most valuable player of the Elitserien, an award decided by the players. He won both prizes again in 1994, when, after barely making the playoffs, he led his team to their first final since winning the Elitserien playoffs in 1979. In a five game series again against Malmö, Forsberg scored in overtime in game two to put his team one win away from the title. However, he suffered from the flu, and Modo lost the remaining games of the series and the title. By this point, Forsberg was thought to be the best player in the world outside the NHL.
During the summer of 1994, Forsberg decided to play in the NHL after he signed a contract with the Quebec Nordiques in October 1993. The contract was a four-year deal worth $6.5 million, including $4.275 million given as a signing bonus. However, a lockout delayed his NHL debut until 1995, and Forsberg returned to Modo to play 11 more games before going back to North America.
where he recorded his first NHL assist. His first NHL goal came six days later against the Buffalo Sabres
. His rookie season in the NHL was very good—Forsberg was able to combine a good offensive performance with responsibility in defense as well as physical play. He scored 50 points (15 goals and 35 assists) in 47 games, including a 14-game run in which he scored 26 points and was second in scoring for the Nordiques, behind Joe Sakic
. He missed only one game, due to the flu. The Nordiques won the Northeast Division
and had the second best record of the regular season but lost in the first playoff round against the New York Rangers
. At the end of the season, Forsberg won the Calder Memorial Trophy
for best rookie in the season and was selected to the NHL All-Rookie Team
.
On July 1, 1995, it became official that the Nordiques' owner Marcel Aubut
had sold the team to the COMSAT Entertainment Group, which moved the franchise to Denver, Colorado
. The franchise was presented as the Colorado Avalanche
on August 10, 1995.
Forsberg was on a team that included center and captain
Joe Sakic, defenceman Adam Foote
and, in the near future, Vezina
and Conn Smythe Trophy
winner Patrick Roy
. In its first year in Denver, the Avalanche won the Stanley Cup
after finishing the regular season with the second best league record and winning the Pacific Division
. Forsberg scored 116 points in the regular season (30 goals, 86 assists) and 21 more in the playoffs (10 goals, 11 assists). Forsberg finished second in points standings in team and fifth overall in the league in the regular season and post season. During game two of the Stanley Cup Finals
against the Florida Panthers
, Forsberg scored three goals in a period and became the sixth player in NHL history to do so. Not only was the 1995–96 NHL season Forsberg's highest scoring season, but it would also be the only NHL season in which he played in all his team's games.
In the 1996–97 season, Forsberg played in only 65 regular season games and 14 of Colorado's 17 playoff games due to a bruised thigh. But he recorded 86 points (28 goals, 58 assists) as Colorado earned its first Presidents' Trophy
and the third consecutive division title for the franchise. On March 16, 1997, Forsberg participated in his only fight in his NHL career against Detroit Red Wings
winger Martin Lapointe
. The fight occurred 10 days before the famous Red Wings – Avalanche brawl. In the playoffs, Colorado lost in the Conference Finals against Detroit; Forsberg scored 17 points (5 goals, 12 assists).
The same year Forsberg was chosen to be on the cover of NHL 98. A video game made by EA Sports
.
In 2001, the Avalanche won their second Stanley Cup. After the Avalanche defeated the Los Angeles Kings
in the second round of the playoffs, Forsberg had to have his spleen removed
and could not play again in the playoffs. Based on doctors' advice and his overall deteriorated health, he decided to take the following season off to recuperate. He returned for the playoffs, though, and he again led the playoffs in scoring with 27 points, but his team lost to the Detroit Red Wings
in the Western Conference
finals.
2002–03 was a banner year for Forsberg. He centered the highly productive "AMP line" (i.e. Alex, Milan, Peter) with wingers Alex Tanguay
and Milan Hejduk
as part of the Colorado Avalanche's "one-two punch" offensive plan led by centers Forsberg and Joe Sakic
. Much healthier and more rested than he had been in the previous few years, he went on to lead the league with 106 points, for which he was awarded the Art Ross Trophy
, as well as the Hart Memorial Trophy
for league MVP. The Avalanche lost to the Minnesota Wild
in the playoffs.
during the 2004–05 NHL lockout. He had signed a one-year contract even before the confirmation of the cancellation of the 2004–05 NHL season. Coached by his father and together with NHL players Henrik
and Daniel Sedin
and Markus Näslund
, Forsberg played only 33 of Modo's 50 regular season games because of surgery he had after dislocating his left wrist and breaking a bone in the hand. He scored 39 points (13 goals and 26 assists) and finished eleventh in the scoring leaders race, tied with the eighth. Modo finished sixth in the regular season and lost in the first round of the playoffs against Färjestads BK
in a six game series in which Forsberg only played one game.
After the end of the season and with the return of the NHL, Forsberg returned to North America. The implementation of a salary cap was a blow to the Colorado Avalanche
, one of the highest spenders of the league, who were forced to let go of Forsberg and Adam Foote
to save room in the cap for Joe Sakic and Rob Blake
. He refused a four-year, $13.5 million offer from the Avalanche before signing a two-year, $11.5 million contract with the Philadelphia Flyers
.
Before the season start, he had surgery to remove a bursa sac from his right ankle
. He debuted with the Flyers on October 5 in a game against the New York Rangers. He scored two assists in his first game and 12 in his first six. Despite only playing 60 games, mostly because of a groin
injury, he scored 75 points (19 goals and 56 assists) and the Flyers lost in the first round of the playoffs against the Buffalo Sabres
.
After the end of the season, he had surgery on his right ankle and foot to correct deformities because of an abnormal arch
that caused him to stretch his ankle tendon
s. He was expected to have the same surgery done on his left foot and to be sidelined until January, but a doctor considered he did not need it and he was ready to play by the start of the 2006–07 NHL season. On September 14, 2006, Forsberg became the Flyers' fifteenth captain
in team history, after Keith Primeau
retired. The season was troubled for him: as the Flyers were having their worst season ever, Forsberg had not fully recovered from his right foot problems and had doubts about his future. With his contract ending at the end of the season and with no commitment on Forsberg's part to signing a new contract or to retire, on February 15, 12 days before the trade deadline
, the Flyers traded him to the Nashville Predators
, in exchange for Ryan Parent
, Scottie Upshall
, and Nashville's first and third round 2007
picks to boost Nashville's playoff run. At the Predators' last regular season game, Forsberg returned to Denver for the first time since leaving the Colorado Avalanche. He assisted on another former Avalanche player Paul Kariya
's game winning goal that eliminated any chances the Avalanche had of progressing to the playoffs, the first time ever the franchise had failed to do so since moving to Colorado. The Predators lost in the first round of the playoffs against the San Jose Sharks
, with Forsberg scoring four points in the five game series. Forsberg had an average of less than one point per game in the regular season for the first time in his career and for the second time in the playoffs.
For most of the 2007–08 season, Forsberg was an unrestricted free agent
and said that he would not return to the NHL. He had surgery on his foot and was waiting to see if he was in condition to play. He said that in Europe, he would only play for Modo Hockey
, and in the NHL he would probably play for one of his former three clubs. On February 25, 2008, Forsberg signed a contract with the Colorado Avalanche for the rest of the 2007–08 season.
Forsberg's first game back with the Avalanche was on March 4, 2008, home at the Pepsi Center
against the Vancouver Canucks
. However, he was sidelined after just three games on March 9, 2008, due to a groin injury sustained in the game on March 8. He was listed by the club as day-to-day. On April 1, against Vancouver, he scored his first goal of the season in Colorado's penultimate regular season game.
Coming back from a 10 month break Forsberg was first among all NHL players in terms of average-points-per-game (PPG) during the 2007–08 regular season. With an average of 1.56 PPG in 9 games he placed himself on top over the scoring league winner Alexander Ovechkin
with the second highest average of 1.37 PPG, although Ovechkin played all 82 games.
He played two seasons with MODO from 2008–09 and 2009–10, the latter season being joined by fellow country man Markus Näslund
.
On August 14, 2010, Forsberg announced he was not optimistic about returning to hockey, hinting he may retire.
in attempt to make a comeback in the National Hockey League
(NHL).
On February 6, the Avalanche announced that they had come to terms on a contract with Forsberg worth $1 million for the remainder of the 2010-11 season. Forsberg played his first game back with the Avalanche in Nationwide Arena
against the Columbus Blue Jackets
on February 11. Forsberg was in the starting lineup at left wing
, a departure from his natural center, with 2001 Stanley Cup teammate Milan Hejduk
, and Matt Duchene
. In the two games he played, Forsberg was on ice for 17 minutes and 38 seconds, with 0 points and a –2 rating.
The Avalanche in the midst of a losing season heavily advertised tickets for Forsberg's first comeback home game. On February 14, 2011, hours before he was scheduled to play in front of the Avalanche's home fans at the Pepsi Center
for the first time during his comeback, Forsberg announced his retirement from ice hockey. The Colorado Avalanche's official website announced that Forsberg would hold a press conference later that day, announcing his retirement. In the press conference, Forsberg cited an "inability to defend (himself)" on the ice, with foot problems also playing a role in his decision. His comeback consisted of two road games .
On October 8, 2011 he had his jersey number retired prior to Avalanche's 2011–12 season
season opener at the Pepsi Center
.
for Modo, Forsberg was named an assistant general manager
of the Modo organization.
in:
Peter Forsberg has played in 13 competitions for the Swedish national senior team and three competitions as a junior. After debuting at the European Junior Ice Hockey Championships in 1991, he played in the World Junior Championships in 1992 where scored 11 points in seven games as Sweden won silver medal. He became a World Champion in 1992, when Sweden won the Ice Hockey World Championships
. In 1994, he led the Swedes to a gold medal in the Winter Olympics
, scoring the winning goal of the penalty shootout that decided the gold medal game. Forsberg's "one hand, slide in" goal, a move which he borrowed from retired Swedish ice hockey player Kent Nilsson
, has become popular in today's NHL. An image of Forsberg scoring this goal was later placed on a Swedish postage stamp
, making him the first hockey player to be placed on a Swedish stamp. The second player and so far only one besides Forsberg to be printed on a Swedish postage stamp is former Toronto Maple Leafs
captain
Mats Sundin
. Forsberg's famous move on Canadian goaltender Corey Hirsch
(who refused to allow his name to be shown on the stamp) has become so iconic in hockey that efforts to reproduce it inevitably draw references to Forsberg from hockey commentators.
In October 2007, it was announced that Forsberg would be playing for the Swedish national team in the Karjala Cup, though he was forced to withdraw from the team after just one practice session after experiencing continued problems with his foot. In November 2009, he did however play for Sweden in said tournament, including his 100th game for the Swedish national team against Russia on November 7.
Forsberg was on the 23 man roster to play for Sweden in the 2010 Olympics in Vancouver and he carried Sweden's flag during the opening ceremonies.
-like" passing touch, he has been complimented by journalists and players for making the players around him better.
The first season in which he missed a significant part was 1996–97. Due to a bruise
d thigh
, Forsberg was out on 14 regular season games and three playoff games. In the off season before the 1999–2000 season, Forsberg underwent shoulder
surgery and missed the first 23 games of the season. He missed an extra 10 games due to shoulder injuries, a concussion and a hip pointer
. After missing eight games due to a rib
injury in the 2000–01 regular season, Forsberg suffered a severe injury in the playoffs. After the last game of the conference semifinal against the Los Angeles Kings
on May 9, 2001, he underwent surgery to remove a ruptured
spleen
and it was announced that he would not play until the following season. In the beginning of the 2001–02 season, he took a leave of absence
to heal his injuries. In January 2002, the Colorado Avalanche
held a press conference but instead of announcing the expected return of Forsberg, announced that he had been submitted to reconstructive surgery
on the peroneal
tendon
s of his left foot (Forsberg would return for the playoffs that season, but foot problems would plague Forsberg for the rest of his career and eventually end it). In 2003–04 season, he missed 43 games: 19 with a groin
and abdominal injury
During the lockout, while playing for MODO Hockey
, Forsberg had surgery after dislocating his left wrist and breaking a bone in the hand., and because of a bursa sac removal.
, Peter Forsberg was the fourth-highest all-time Swedish point scorer in the NHL regular season.
On the night of the Colorado Avalanche
's home opener of the 2011-2012 season, the Avalanche retired Peter Forsberg's #21, solidifying his legacy with the team.
Awards information taken from NHL.com.
* = Hatcher served as interim captain during the 2005–06 season in Primeau's absence due to injury.
Swedes
Swedes are a Scandinavian nation and ethnic group native to Sweden, mostly inhabiting Sweden and the other Nordic countries, with descendants living in a number of countries.-Etymology:...
professional ice hockey
Ice hockey
Ice hockey, often referred to as hockey, is a team sport played on ice, in which skaters use wooden or composite sticks to shoot a hard rubber puck into their opponent's net. The game is played between two teams of six players each. Five members of each team skate up and down the ice trying to take...
player and currently an assistant general manager
General manager
General manager is a descriptive term for certain executives in a business operation. It is also a formal title held by some business executives, most commonly in the hospitality industry.-Generic usage:...
of Modo Sports
MODO Hockey
Modo Hockey is a professional ice hockey club in Örnsköldsvik, Sweden. The club plays in Sweden's premier ice hockey league, the Elitserien. They were founded in 1921 and have won two Elitserien championships; in 1979 and 2007. The team's home arena is the Fjällräven Center since 2006...
. Known for his on-ice vision and physical play, Forsberg is considered one of the most complete players of his generation. As of 2011, he stands tenth all-time in career points-per-game and fourth all-time in career assists-per-game in the NHL, only behind Wayne Gretzky
Wayne Gretzky
Wayne Douglas Gretzky, CC is a Canadian former professional ice hockey player and former head coach. Nicknamed "The Great One", he is generally regarded as the best player in the history of the National Hockey League , and has been called "the greatest hockey player ever" by many sportswriters,...
, Mario Lemieux
Mario Lemieux
Mario Lemieux, OC, CQ is a Canadian former professional ice hockey player. He is acknowledged to be one of the best players of all time. He played 17 seasons as a forward for the Pittsburgh Penguins of the National Hockey League between 1984 and 2006...
and Bobby Orr
Bobby Orr
Robert Gordon "Bobby" Orr, OC is a Canadian former professional ice hockey player. Orr played in the National Hockey League for his entire career, the first ten seasons with the Boston Bruins, joining the Chicago Black Hawks for two more. Orr is widely acknowledged to be one of the greatest...
.
His 19-year professional career includes 13 years in the National Hockey League
National Hockey League
The National Hockey League is an unincorporated not-for-profit association which operates a major professional ice hockey league of 30 franchised member clubs, of which 7 are currently located in Canada and 23 in the United States...
where he won two Stanley Cup
Stanley Cup
The Stanley Cup is an ice hockey club trophy, awarded annually to the National Hockey League playoffs champion after the conclusion of the Stanley Cup Finals. It has been referred to as The Cup, Lord Stanley's Cup, The Holy Grail, or facetiously as Lord Stanley's Mug...
s with the Colorado Avalanche
Colorado Avalanche
The Colorado Avalanche are a professional ice hockey team based in Denver, Colorado, United States. They are members of the Northwest Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League . The Avalanche have won the Stanley Cup twice, in 1995–96 and 2000–01. The franchise...
, as well as numerous individual honors including the prestigious Hart Memorial Trophy
Hart Memorial Trophy
The Hart Memorial Trophy, originally known as the Hart Trophy, the "oldest and most prestigious individual award in hockey", is awarded annually to the "player adjudged most valuable to his team" in the National Hockey League . The Hart Memorial Trophy has been awarded 86 times to 53 different...
in 2003. Internationally, with the Swedish national team, he won two World Championships
Ice Hockey World Championships
The Ice Hockey World Championships are an annual ice hockey tournament organized by the International Ice Hockey Federation . First officially held at the 1920 Summer Olympics, it is the sport's highest profile annual international tournament. The IIHF was created in 1908 while the European...
and two Olympic hockey gold medals
Ice hockey at the Olympic Games
Ice hockey tournaments have been staged at the Olympic Games since 1920. The men's tournament was introduced at the 1920 Summer Olympics and was transferred permanently to the Winter Olympic Games programme in 1924. The women's tournament was first held at the 1998 Winter Olympics...
. He is a member of the Triple Gold Club
Triple Gold Club
The Triple Gold Club is a term used to describe ice hockey players and coaches who have won an Olympic Games gold medal, a World Championship gold medal, and the Stanley Cup, the championship trophy of the National Hockey League...
and the only Swede who has won the three competitions twice. As of the end of the 2008–09 NHL season
2008–09 NHL season
The 2008–09 NHL season was the 92nd season of operation of the National Hockey League . It was the first season since prior to the 2004–05 lockout in which every team played each other at least once during the season, following three seasons where teams only played against two divisions in the...
, he is the fourth-highest all-time Swedish point scorer in the NHL regular season. Before his short-lived comeback season in 2011
2010–11 NHL season
The 2010–11 NHL season was the 94th season of operation of the National Hockey League . It was the fourth consecutive season that opened in Europe with NHL Premiere . A record three events were scheduled, all in previous NHL Premiere cities: Helsinki, Finland; Stockholm, Sweden; and Prague, Czech...
, Forsberg never had a negative plus-minus rating, giving him an overall career rating of +238.
Early and personal life
Peter Forsberg is the son of Kent ForsbergKent Forsberg
Kent Forsberg is a Swedish ice hockey coach. He has coached Modo Hockey of the Elitserien and the Swedish national team. He is the father of former NHL player Peter Forsberg.-Coaching career:...
, who is the former coach of Modo Hockey
MODO Hockey
Modo Hockey is a professional ice hockey club in Örnsköldsvik, Sweden. The club plays in Sweden's premier ice hockey league, the Elitserien. They were founded in 1921 and have won two Elitserien championships; in 1979 and 2007. The team's home arena is the Fjällräven Center since 2006...
and the Swedish national team. Peter Forsberg has been coached by his father for a significant part of his career: the two teamed up from 1991 to 1994 in Modo Hockey, later for the national team in the 1996 World Cup of Hockey
1996 World Cup of Hockey
The first World Cup of Hockey , or 1996 World Cup of Hockey, replaced the Canada Cup as one of the premier championships for professional ice hockey ....
, then for the 1998 Olympic ice hockey tournament
Ice hockey at the 1998 Winter Olympics
Ice hockey at the 1998 Winter Olympics was played at The Big Hat and Aqua Wing Arena in Nagano, Japan.-Men's tournament:The 1998 Olympic men's ice hockey tournament was the first in which professional players from the National Hockey League were allowed to participate, allowing national teams to...
, and for the 1998 World Championship
1998 Men's World Ice Hockey Championships
-World Championship Group C :Played March 22-28 in Budapest, Székesfehérvár and Dunaújváros.- Group 1 :- Group 2 :- Final Round 25-28 Place :Hungary was promoted to Group B.- Consolation Round 29-32 Place :...
, which Sweden won. They also own a Swedish development company named Forspro Company. The company co-funded the Modo Hockey team's new Swedbank Arena in Örnsköldsvik.
Independently of his father, Peter Forsberg also owned a company—Pforce AB—that imported and markets Crocs
Crocs
Crocs, Inc. is a shoe manufacturer founded by 3 friends - Scott Seamans, Lyndon "Duke" Hanson, and George Boedecker, Jr. - to produce and distribute a foam clog design acquired from a Quebec company called Foam Creations. The shoe had originally been developed as a spa shoe. The first model...
shoes in his native Sweden since 2005. On July 14, 2010 Forsberg announced he was closing Pforce after taking heavy losses in 2009, 2010. Forsberg is also interested in harness racing
Harness racing
Harness racing is a form of horse racing in which the horses race at a specific gait . They usually pull a two-wheeled cart called a sulky, although racing under saddle is also conducted in Europe.-Breeds:...
, and owns or has owned a few racing horses during the years, including Tsar d' Inverne and Adrian Chip. He has also invested money in a golf course named Veckefjärdens Golf Club in his native Örnsköldsvik.
Forsberg and fellow Swede Markus Näslund
Markus Näslund
Sten Markus Näslund is a Swedish ice hockey general manager for Modo Hockey and a retired professional winger. He played in the National Hockey League for the Pittsburgh Penguins, Vancouver Canucks and New York Rangers, as well as in the Elitserien with Modo Hockey...
founded Icebreakers
Icebreakers
Icebreakers is an ice hockey team founded in 2002 by Peter Forsberg and Markus Näslund. Their purpose is to raise money for a foundation who give scholarships to dysfunctional, handicapped or otherwise needy children...
, an organization that brings together professional ice hockey players for exhibition games to raise money for charities.
Forsberg's idol while growing up was Håkan Loob
Håkan Loob
Per Håkan Loob is a retired Swedish professional ice hockey player who is currently the president of hockey operations of Färjestads BK in the Swedish Elitserien, for whom he played much of his playing career....
.
In late 2010, Forsberg became engaged to fellow Swede Nicole Nordin in Paris.
1989–1994
Forsberg debuted in 1989 with the junior squad of Modo HockeyMODO Hockey
Modo Hockey is a professional ice hockey club in Örnsköldsvik, Sweden. The club plays in Sweden's premier ice hockey league, the Elitserien. They were founded in 1921 and have won two Elitserien championships; in 1979 and 2007. The team's home arena is the Fjällräven Center since 2006...
, the club of his hometown Örnsköldsvik
Örnsköldsvik
Örnsköldsvik is a locality and the seat of Örnsköldsvik Municipality in Västernorrland County, Sweden with 28,617 inhabitants in 2005.Its natural harbour and archipelago is in the Gulf of Bothnia and the northern boundaries of the High Coast area. It is well known as an exporter of paper products...
. During the course of the season, he debuted with the senior team that played in the Elitserien
Elitserien
Elitserien, is a professional ice hockey league composed of twelve teams in Sweden...
, the highest-level professional ice hockey league in Sweden
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
, and scored an assist in his only game. In 1990–91, he scored 102 points in 39 games with the junior team and 17 points in 23 games with the senior team.
At the end of the season, Forsberg was drafted sixth overall by the Philadelphia Flyers
Philadelphia Flyers
The Philadelphia Flyers are a professional ice hockey team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League...
in the 1991 NHL Entry Draft
1991 NHL Entry Draft
The 1991 NHL Entry Draft was held on June 22 at the Memorial Auditorium in Buffalo, New York. A total of 264 players were drafted. The draft was famous for the controversy surrounding star first overall draft pick, touted by some observers to be The Next One, Eric Lindros, who was drafted by the...
; he was the first European player taken that year. The draft pick was surprising because Forsberg was expected to be selected later in the draft. The Hockey News
The Hockey News
The Hockey News, commonly abbreviated to THN, is a North American ice hockey magazine published by Transcontinental. The Hockey News was founded in 1947 by Ken McKenzie and Bill Côté, and has since been the most recognized hockey publication in North America...
had ranked Forsberg as the 25th best draft prospect in its 1991 draft preview, saying he was a "a solid second rounder who could move into the first". The pick was criticized by the Philadelphia media, prompting Flyers' General Manager Russ Farwell
Russ Farwell
Russ Farwell is the owner, governor, and general manager of the Seattle Thunderbirds of the Western Hockey League. He is most well known for his stint as general manager of the Philadelphia Flyers from 1990 to 1994, during which he made a blockbuster trade with the Quebec Nordiques to acquire the...
and the team's chief European scout to reply that time would prove them right.
Eric Lindros
Eric Lindros
Eric Bryan Lindros is a retired Canadian professional ice hockey player. Lindros played junior hockey in the OHL for the Oshawa Generals prior to being selected first overall in the 1991 NHL Entry Draft by the Quebec Nordiques...
was the main attraction of the draft. He was drafted first overall by the Quebec Nordiques
Quebec Nordiques
The Quebec Nordiques were a professional ice hockey team based in Quebec City, Quebec, Canada. The Nordiques played in the World Hockey Association and the National Hockey League...
but refused to sign a contract and, on advice from his mother, began a holdout that lasted over a year. On June 30, 1992, Forsberg was included in a deal that sent five players, two first round draft picks, and US$15 million to the Quebec Nordiques in exchange for Eric Lindros. In hindsight, the Lindros trade is seen as one of the most one-sided deals in sports history, and the deal became a major foundation for the Nordiques/Avalanche franchise's success over the next decade.
Forsberg remained in Sweden, playing for Modo for the following three years. In 1993 the team was eliminated in the playoffs quarterfinals against Malmö
Malmö Redhawks
The Malmö Redhawks is an ice hockey club from Malmö, Sweden. The team is currently playing in the second highest league in Sweden, HockeyAllsvenskan. Malmö has played 16 seasons in the top Swedish league Elitserien .-History:...
, and Forsberg won the Golden Puck
Guldpucken
Guldpucken is awarded annually to the ice hockey player of the year in Sweden. It is similar to the NHL's Hart Memorial Trophy. Normally it goes to a player in the Swedish Elite League...
for best Swedish ice hockey player of the year and the Golden Helmet
Guldhjälmen
Guldhjälmen is a Swedish ice hockey award, which is awarded annually to Elitserien's most valuable player as decided by a vote of its players....
for most valuable player of the Elitserien, an award decided by the players. He won both prizes again in 1994, when, after barely making the playoffs, he led his team to their first final since winning the Elitserien playoffs in 1979. In a five game series again against Malmö, Forsberg scored in overtime in game two to put his team one win away from the title. However, he suffered from the flu, and Modo lost the remaining games of the series and the title. By this point, Forsberg was thought to be the best player in the world outside the NHL.
During the summer of 1994, Forsberg decided to play in the NHL after he signed a contract with the Quebec Nordiques in October 1993. The contract was a four-year deal worth $6.5 million, including $4.275 million given as a signing bonus. However, a lockout delayed his NHL debut until 1995, and Forsberg returned to Modo to play 11 more games before going back to North America.
1995–2004
After the lockout ended, the 1994–95 NHL season began on January 21, 1995. That was the day Forsberg made his NHL debut against the Philadelphia FlyersPhiladelphia Flyers
The Philadelphia Flyers are a professional ice hockey team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League...
where he recorded his first NHL assist. His first NHL goal came six days later against the Buffalo Sabres
Buffalo Sabres
The Buffalo Sabres are a professional ice hockey team based in Buffalo, New York. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League .-Founding and early success: 1970-71—1980-81:...
. His rookie season in the NHL was very good—Forsberg was able to combine a good offensive performance with responsibility in defense as well as physical play. He scored 50 points (15 goals and 35 assists) in 47 games, including a 14-game run in which he scored 26 points and was second in scoring for the Nordiques, behind Joe Sakic
Joe Sakic
Joseph Steven "Joe" Sakic is a former Canadian professional ice hockey player and current hockey executive. He played his entire National Hockey League career with the Quebec Nordiques/Colorado Avalanche franchise. In his 20-year tenure, Sakic won the Stanley Cup twice, captured numerous NHL...
. He missed only one game, due to the flu. The Nordiques won the Northeast Division
Northeast Division (NHL)
The NHL's Northeast Division was formed in 1993 as part of the Eastern Conference in a league realignment, the predecessor of which was the Adams Division...
and had the second best record of the regular season but lost in the first playoff round against the New York Rangers
New York Rangers
The New York Rangers are a professional ice hockey team based in the borough of Manhattan in New York, New York, USA. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . Playing their home games at Madison Square Garden, the Rangers are one of the...
. At the end of the season, Forsberg won the Calder Memorial Trophy
Calder Memorial Trophy
The Calder Memorial Trophy is an annual award given "to the player selected as the most proficient in his first year of competition in the National Hockey League." The Rookie of the Year trophy has been awarded 79 times since its creation for the 1936–37 NHL season...
for best rookie in the season and was selected to the NHL All-Rookie Team
NHL All-Rookie Team
The NHL All-Rookie Team is chosen by the Professional Hockey Writers' Association from the best rookies in the National Hockey League at each position for the season just concluded based on their performance in that year...
.
On July 1, 1995, it became official that the Nordiques' owner Marcel Aubut
Marcel Aubut
Marcel Aubut, is a Canadian lawyer, president of the Canadian Olympic Committee and former president and Chief Executive Officer of the Quebec Nordiques of the National Hockey League .-Personal life:...
had sold the team to the COMSAT Entertainment Group, which moved the franchise to Denver, Colorado
Denver, Colorado
The City and County of Denver is the capital and the most populous city of the U.S. state of Colorado. Denver is a consolidated city-county, located in the South Platte River Valley on the western edge of the High Plains just east of the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains...
. The franchise was presented as the Colorado Avalanche
Colorado Avalanche
The Colorado Avalanche are a professional ice hockey team based in Denver, Colorado, United States. They are members of the Northwest Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League . The Avalanche have won the Stanley Cup twice, in 1995–96 and 2000–01. The franchise...
on August 10, 1995.
Forsberg was on a team that included center and captain
Captain (ice hockey)
In ice hockey, each team can designate an official captain for each game. The player serving as captain during the game wears a "C" on his or her jersey...
Joe Sakic, defenceman Adam Foote
Adam Foote
Adam David Vernon Foote is a retired Canadian professional ice hockey defenceman. He was best known for his physical presence and gritty play as a stay-at-home defenceman....
and, in the near future, Vezina
Vezina Trophy
The Vezina Trophy is awarded annually to the National Hockey League's goaltender who is "adjudged to be the best at this position". At the end of each season, the 30 General Managers of the teams in the National Hockey League vote to determine the goaltender who was the most valuable to his team...
and Conn Smythe Trophy
Conn Smythe Trophy
The Conn Smythe Trophy is awarded annually to the player judged most valuable to his team during the National Hockey League's Stanley Cup playoffs. The Conn Smythe Trophy has been awarded 46 times to 40 players since the 1964–65 NHL season...
winner Patrick Roy
Patrick Roy
Patrick Edward Armand Roy is a former Canadian ice hockey goaltender. Nicknamed "Saint Patrick," Roy split his professional career between the Montreal Canadiens, whom he played with for 10 years, and the Colorado Avalanche, whom he played with for 8 years, both of the National Hockey League...
. In its first year in Denver, the Avalanche won the Stanley Cup
Stanley Cup
The Stanley Cup is an ice hockey club trophy, awarded annually to the National Hockey League playoffs champion after the conclusion of the Stanley Cup Finals. It has been referred to as The Cup, Lord Stanley's Cup, The Holy Grail, or facetiously as Lord Stanley's Mug...
after finishing the regular season with the second best league record and winning the Pacific Division
Pacific Division (NHL)
The National Hockey League's Pacific Division is one of three divisions that make up the Western Conference. It was formed in 1993 as part of a league realignment...
. Forsberg scored 116 points in the regular season (30 goals, 86 assists) and 21 more in the playoffs (10 goals, 11 assists). Forsberg finished second in points standings in team and fifth overall in the league in the regular season and post season. During game two of the Stanley Cup Finals
1996 Stanley Cup Finals
The 1996 Stanley Cup Final NHL championship series was contested by two teams that had not existed three seasons before, the Colorado Avalanche and the Florida Panthers. The Avalanche won the Cup in a four game sweep to win the franchise's first Stanley Cup, in their first season in Denver since...
against the Florida Panthers
Florida Panthers
The Florida Panthers are a professional ice hockey team based in Sunrise, Florida, in the Miami metropolitan area. They are members of the Southeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . They play their games at the BankAtlantic Center in Sunrise and are the...
, Forsberg scored three goals in a period and became the sixth player in NHL history to do so. Not only was the 1995–96 NHL season Forsberg's highest scoring season, but it would also be the only NHL season in which he played in all his team's games.
In the 1996–97 season, Forsberg played in only 65 regular season games and 14 of Colorado's 17 playoff games due to a bruised thigh. But he recorded 86 points (28 goals, 58 assists) as Colorado earned its first Presidents' Trophy
Presidents' Trophy
The Presidents' Trophy is an award presented by the National Hockey League to the team that finishes with the most points in the league during the regular season. If two teams tie for the most points, then the trophy goes to the team with the most wins. The winning team is also awarded C$350,000...
and the third consecutive division title for the franchise. On March 16, 1997, Forsberg participated in his only fight in his NHL career against Detroit Red Wings
Detroit Red Wings
The Detroit Red Wings are a professional ice hockey team based in Detroit, Michigan. They are members of the Central Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League , and are one of the Original Six teams of the NHL, along with the Toronto Maple Leafs, Montreal Canadiens, New York...
winger Martin Lapointe
Martin Lapointe
Martin Lapointe is a Canadian former professional ice hockey player. He played in the National Hockey League for the Ottawa Senators, Detroit Red Wings, Boston Bruins, and Chicago Blackhawks.-Playing career:...
. The fight occurred 10 days before the famous Red Wings – Avalanche brawl. In the playoffs, Colorado lost in the Conference Finals against Detroit; Forsberg scored 17 points (5 goals, 12 assists).
The same year Forsberg was chosen to be on the cover of NHL 98. A video game made by EA Sports
EA Sports
EA Sports is a brand of Electronic Arts that creates and develops sports video games. Formerly a marketing gimmick of Electronic Arts, in which they tried to mimic real-life sports networks by calling themselves "EA Sports Network" with pictures or endorsements of real commentators such as John...
.
In 2001, the Avalanche won their second Stanley Cup. After the Avalanche defeated the Los Angeles Kings
Los Angeles Kings
The Los Angeles Kings are a professional ice hockey team based in Los Angeles, California. They are members of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League...
in the second round of the playoffs, Forsberg had to have his spleen removed
Ruptured spleen
Rupture of the capsule of the spleen, an organ in the upper left part of the abdomen, is a situation that requires immediate medical attention. The rupture of a normal spleen can be caused by trauma, such as a car accident.-Function In the Body:...
and could not play again in the playoffs. Based on doctors' advice and his overall deteriorated health, he decided to take the following season off to recuperate. He returned for the playoffs, though, and he again led the playoffs in scoring with 27 points, but his team lost to the Detroit Red Wings
Detroit Red Wings
The Detroit Red Wings are a professional ice hockey team based in Detroit, Michigan. They are members of the Central Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League , and are one of the Original Six teams of the NHL, along with the Toronto Maple Leafs, Montreal Canadiens, New York...
in the Western Conference
Western Conference (NHL)
The Western Conference is one of two conferences in the National Hockey League used to divide teams. Its counterpart is the Eastern Conference....
finals.
2002–03 was a banner year for Forsberg. He centered the highly productive "AMP line" (i.e. Alex, Milan, Peter) with wingers Alex Tanguay
Alex Tanguay
Alexandre Tanguay is a Canadian professional ice hockey winger currently with the Calgary Flames of the National Hockey League . He has additionally played with the Colorado Avalanche, Montreal Canadiens and Tampa Bay Lightning in the NHL and briefly for HC Lugano in the Swiss National League A in...
and Milan Hejduk
Milan Hejduk
Milan Hejduk is a Czech professional ice hockey forward and the captain for the Colorado Avalanche of the National Hockey League .- Playing career :...
as part of the Colorado Avalanche's "one-two punch" offensive plan led by centers Forsberg and Joe Sakic
Joe Sakic
Joseph Steven "Joe" Sakic is a former Canadian professional ice hockey player and current hockey executive. He played his entire National Hockey League career with the Quebec Nordiques/Colorado Avalanche franchise. In his 20-year tenure, Sakic won the Stanley Cup twice, captured numerous NHL...
. Much healthier and more rested than he had been in the previous few years, he went on to lead the league with 106 points, for which he was awarded the Art Ross Trophy
Art Ross Trophy
The Art Ross Trophy is awarded to the National Hockey League player who leads the league in scoring points at the end of the regular season. It was presented to the NHL by former player, general manager, and head coach Art Ross. The trophy has been awarded 61 times to 25 players since its inception...
, as well as the Hart Memorial Trophy
Hart Memorial Trophy
The Hart Memorial Trophy, originally known as the Hart Trophy, the "oldest and most prestigious individual award in hockey", is awarded annually to the "player adjudged most valuable to his team" in the National Hockey League . The Hart Memorial Trophy has been awarded 86 times to 53 different...
for league MVP. The Avalanche lost to the Minnesota Wild
Minnesota Wild
The Minnesota Wild are a professional ice hockey team based in St. Paul, Minnesota, United States. They are members of the Northwest Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League ....
in the playoffs.
2004–2010
Peter Forsberg returned to Modo HockeyMODO Hockey
Modo Hockey is a professional ice hockey club in Örnsköldsvik, Sweden. The club plays in Sweden's premier ice hockey league, the Elitserien. They were founded in 1921 and have won two Elitserien championships; in 1979 and 2007. The team's home arena is the Fjällräven Center since 2006...
during the 2004–05 NHL lockout. He had signed a one-year contract even before the confirmation of the cancellation of the 2004–05 NHL season. Coached by his father and together with NHL players Henrik
Henrik Sedin
Henrik Sedin is a Swedish professional ice hockey centre and captain of the Vancouver Canucks of the National Hockey League . His identical twin brother Daniel also plays for the Canucks. Having played together throughout their careers, the pair are known for their effectiveness playing off one...
and Daniel Sedin
Daniel Sedin
Daniel Sedin is a Swedish professional ice hockey winger with the Vancouver Canucks of the National Hockey League , and serves as an alternate captain for the Canucks during home games. His identical twin brother Henrik also plays for the Canucks, and is the team captain...
and Markus Näslund
Markus Näslund
Sten Markus Näslund is a Swedish ice hockey general manager for Modo Hockey and a retired professional winger. He played in the National Hockey League for the Pittsburgh Penguins, Vancouver Canucks and New York Rangers, as well as in the Elitserien with Modo Hockey...
, Forsberg played only 33 of Modo's 50 regular season games because of surgery he had after dislocating his left wrist and breaking a bone in the hand. He scored 39 points (13 goals and 26 assists) and finished eleventh in the scoring leaders race, tied with the eighth. Modo finished sixth in the regular season and lost in the first round of the playoffs against Färjestads BK
Färjestads BK
Färjestads Bollklubb is a Swedish professional ice hockey team based in Karlstad. Färjestad has had 18 Swedish Championship final appearances, winning nine times since Elitserien was started in 1975. The team plays in the highest Swedish league, and have done so since 1965...
in a six game series in which Forsberg only played one game.
After the end of the season and with the return of the NHL, Forsberg returned to North America. The implementation of a salary cap was a blow to the Colorado Avalanche
Colorado Avalanche
The Colorado Avalanche are a professional ice hockey team based in Denver, Colorado, United States. They are members of the Northwest Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League . The Avalanche have won the Stanley Cup twice, in 1995–96 and 2000–01. The franchise...
, one of the highest spenders of the league, who were forced to let go of Forsberg and Adam Foote
Adam Foote
Adam David Vernon Foote is a retired Canadian professional ice hockey defenceman. He was best known for his physical presence and gritty play as a stay-at-home defenceman....
to save room in the cap for Joe Sakic and Rob Blake
Rob Blake
Robert Bowlby Blake is a retired Canadian professional ice hockey player. He was originally drafted by the Los Angeles Kings in 1988, appearing in the 1993 Stanley Cup Finals, winning the James Norris Memorial Trophy and serving as team captain for five seasons in his initial 11 season-stint with...
. He refused a four-year, $13.5 million offer from the Avalanche before signing a two-year, $11.5 million contract with the Philadelphia Flyers
Philadelphia Flyers
The Philadelphia Flyers are a professional ice hockey team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League...
.
Before the season start, he had surgery to remove a bursa sac from his right ankle
Ankle
The ankle joint is formed where the foot and the leg meet. The ankle, or talocrural joint, is a synovial hinge joint that connects the distal ends of the tibia and fibula in the lower limb with the proximal end of the talus bone in the foot...
. He debuted with the Flyers on October 5 in a game against the New York Rangers. He scored two assists in his first game and 12 in his first six. Despite only playing 60 games, mostly because of a groin
Groin
In human anatomy, the groin areas are the two creases at the junction of the torso with the legs, on either side of the pubic area. This is also known as the medial compartment of the thigh. A pulled groin muscle usually refers to a painful injury sustained by straining the hip adductor muscles...
injury, he scored 75 points (19 goals and 56 assists) and the Flyers lost in the first round of the playoffs against the Buffalo Sabres
Buffalo Sabres
The Buffalo Sabres are a professional ice hockey team based in Buffalo, New York. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League .-Founding and early success: 1970-71—1980-81:...
.
Arches of the foot
-External links:* * *...
that caused him to stretch his ankle tendon
Tendon
A tendon is a tough band of fibrous connective tissue that usually connects muscle to bone and is capable of withstanding tension. Tendons are similar to ligaments and fasciae as they are all made of collagen except that ligaments join one bone to another bone, and fasciae connect muscles to other...
s. He was expected to have the same surgery done on his left foot and to be sidelined until January, but a doctor considered he did not need it and he was ready to play by the start of the 2006–07 NHL season. On September 14, 2006, Forsberg became the Flyers' fifteenth captain
Captain (ice hockey)
In ice hockey, each team can designate an official captain for each game. The player serving as captain during the game wears a "C" on his or her jersey...
in team history, after Keith Primeau
Keith Primeau
Keith Primeau is a Canadian former professional ice hockey centre who played 15 seasons in the National Hockey League with the Detroit Red Wings, Hartford Whalers, Carolina Hurricanes and Philadelphia Flyers...
retired. The season was troubled for him: as the Flyers were having their worst season ever, Forsberg had not fully recovered from his right foot problems and had doubts about his future. With his contract ending at the end of the season and with no commitment on Forsberg's part to signing a new contract or to retire, on February 15, 12 days before the trade deadline
NHL trade deadline
The National Hockey League's trade deadline is a date set by the NHL league office after which no trades are allowed for the remainder of the season. The deadline for the 2011–12 NHL season is set for February 27, 2012 at 3 pm EST. Prior to the current CBA, the trade deadline date had been in...
, the Flyers traded him to the Nashville Predators
Nashville Predators
The Nashville Predators are a professional ice hockey team based in Nashville, Tennessee. They are members of the Central Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League...
, in exchange for Ryan Parent
Ryan Parent
Ryan Parent is a Canadian professional ice hockey defenceman who currently plays within the Vancouver Canucks organization of the National Hockey League .-Playing career:...
, Scottie Upshall
Scottie Upshall
Scott Upshall is a Canadian professional ice hockey right winger currently playing for the Florida Panthers of the National Hockey League...
, and Nashville's first and third round 2007
2007 NHL Entry Draft
The 2007 NHL Entry Draft was the 45th NHL Entry Draft. It was hosted at Nationwide Arena in the city of Columbus, Ohio, United States on June 22, 2007. The draft consisted of seven rounds with rounds two through seven taking place on June 23, 2007...
picks to boost Nashville's playoff run. At the Predators' last regular season game, Forsberg returned to Denver for the first time since leaving the Colorado Avalanche. He assisted on another former Avalanche player Paul Kariya
Paul Kariya
Paul Tetsuhiko Kariya is a Canadian retired professional ice hockey winger who played 15 seasons in the National Hockey League . Known as a skilled and fast-skating offensive player, he played in the NHL for the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim, Colorado Avalanche, Nashville Predators and St...
's game winning goal that eliminated any chances the Avalanche had of progressing to the playoffs, the first time ever the franchise had failed to do so since moving to Colorado. The Predators lost in the first round of the playoffs against the San Jose Sharks
San Jose Sharks
The San Jose Sharks are a professional ice hockey team based in San Jose, California, United States. They are members of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League...
, with Forsberg scoring four points in the five game series. Forsberg had an average of less than one point per game in the regular season for the first time in his career and for the second time in the playoffs.
For most of the 2007–08 season, Forsberg was an unrestricted free agent
Free agent
In professional sports, a free agent is a player whose contract with a team has expired and who is thus eligible to sign with another club or franchise....
and said that he would not return to the NHL. He had surgery on his foot and was waiting to see if he was in condition to play. He said that in Europe, he would only play for Modo Hockey
MODO Hockey
Modo Hockey is a professional ice hockey club in Örnsköldsvik, Sweden. The club plays in Sweden's premier ice hockey league, the Elitserien. They were founded in 1921 and have won two Elitserien championships; in 1979 and 2007. The team's home arena is the Fjällräven Center since 2006...
, and in the NHL he would probably play for one of his former three clubs. On February 25, 2008, Forsberg signed a contract with the Colorado Avalanche for the rest of the 2007–08 season.
Forsberg's first game back with the Avalanche was on March 4, 2008, home at the Pepsi Center
Pepsi Center
Pepsi Center is a multi-purpose arena in Denver, Colorado, United States. The building is home to the Denver Nuggets of the National Basketball Association, the Colorado Avalanche of the National Hockey League, and the Colorado Mammoth of the National Lacrosse League...
against the Vancouver Canucks
Vancouver Canucks
The Vancouver Canucks are a professional ice hockey team based in Vancouver, :British Columbia, Canada. They are members of the Northwest Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League . The Canucks play their home games at Rogers Arena, formerly known as General Motors Place,...
. However, he was sidelined after just three games on March 9, 2008, due to a groin injury sustained in the game on March 8. He was listed by the club as day-to-day. On April 1, against Vancouver, he scored his first goal of the season in Colorado's penultimate regular season game.
Coming back from a 10 month break Forsberg was first among all NHL players in terms of average-points-per-game (PPG) during the 2007–08 regular season. With an average of 1.56 PPG in 9 games he placed himself on top over the scoring league winner Alexander Ovechkin
Alexander Ovechkin
Alexander Mikhaylovich Ovechkin is a Russian professional ice hockey left winger and captain of the Washington Capitals of the National Hockey League...
with the second highest average of 1.37 PPG, although Ovechkin played all 82 games.
He played two seasons with MODO from 2008–09 and 2009–10, the latter season being joined by fellow country man Markus Näslund
Markus Näslund
Sten Markus Näslund is a Swedish ice hockey general manager for Modo Hockey and a retired professional winger. He played in the National Hockey League for the Pittsburgh Penguins, Vancouver Canucks and New York Rangers, as well as in the Elitserien with Modo Hockey...
.
On August 14, 2010, Forsberg announced he was not optimistic about returning to hockey, hinting he may retire.
2011 return to the NHL and retirement
On January 21, 2011, it was announced that Forsberg had begun training with the Colorado AvalancheColorado Avalanche
The Colorado Avalanche are a professional ice hockey team based in Denver, Colorado, United States. They are members of the Northwest Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League . The Avalanche have won the Stanley Cup twice, in 1995–96 and 2000–01. The franchise...
in attempt to make a comeback in the National Hockey League
National Hockey League
The National Hockey League is an unincorporated not-for-profit association which operates a major professional ice hockey league of 30 franchised member clubs, of which 7 are currently located in Canada and 23 in the United States...
(NHL).
On February 6, the Avalanche announced that they had come to terms on a contract with Forsberg worth $1 million for the remainder of the 2010-11 season. Forsberg played his first game back with the Avalanche in Nationwide Arena
Nationwide Arena
Nationwide Arena is a multi-purpose arena, in Columbus, Ohio, USA. It opened in 2000 and is the home of the Columbus Blue Jackets, of the NHL....
against the Columbus Blue Jackets
Columbus Blue Jackets
The Columbus Blue Jackets are a professional ice hockey team based in Columbus, Ohio, United States. They are members of the Central Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League...
on February 11. Forsberg was in the starting lineup at left wing
Winger (ice hockey)
Winger, in the game of hockey, is a forward position of a player whose primary zone of play on the ice is along the outer playing area. They typically work by flanking the centre forward. Originally the name was given to forward players who went up and down the sides of the rink...
, a departure from his natural center, with 2001 Stanley Cup teammate Milan Hejduk
Milan Hejduk
Milan Hejduk is a Czech professional ice hockey forward and the captain for the Colorado Avalanche of the National Hockey League .- Playing career :...
, and Matt Duchene
Matt Duchene
Matthew Duchene is a Canadian professional ice hockey centre in the National Hockey League for the Colorado Avalanche. He was selected third overall by Colorado in the 2009 NHL Entry Draft.-Junior:...
. In the two games he played, Forsberg was on ice for 17 minutes and 38 seconds, with 0 points and a –2 rating.
The Avalanche in the midst of a losing season heavily advertised tickets for Forsberg's first comeback home game. On February 14, 2011, hours before he was scheduled to play in front of the Avalanche's home fans at the Pepsi Center
Pepsi Center
Pepsi Center is a multi-purpose arena in Denver, Colorado, United States. The building is home to the Denver Nuggets of the National Basketball Association, the Colorado Avalanche of the National Hockey League, and the Colorado Mammoth of the National Lacrosse League...
for the first time during his comeback, Forsberg announced his retirement from ice hockey. The Colorado Avalanche's official website announced that Forsberg would hold a press conference later that day, announcing his retirement. In the press conference, Forsberg cited an "inability to defend (himself)" on the ice, with foot problems also playing a role in his decision. His comeback consisted of two road games .
On October 8, 2011 he had his jersey number retired prior to Avalanche's 2011–12 season
2011–12 NHL season
The 2011–12 NHL season is the 95th season of operation of the National Hockey League . It is the fifth consecutive season that opens in Europe with NHL Premiere games. As with the previous season, three events are scheduled: two games will be held in Stockholm, Sweden; one game in Helsinki,...
season opener at the Pepsi Center
Pepsi Center
Pepsi Center is a multi-purpose arena in Denver, Colorado, United States. The building is home to the Denver Nuggets of the National Basketball Association, the Colorado Avalanche of the National Hockey League, and the Colorado Mammoth of the National Lacrosse League...
.
After retirement
On April 20, 2011, nearly two weeks after a dramatic but successful end of the 2011 Kvalserien2011 Kvalserien
The 2011 Kvalserien was the 37th Kvalserien, played between 14 March and 8 April 2011. Växjö Lakers Hockey and Modo Hockey, who finished 1st and 2nd respectively, qualified for the 2011–12 Elitserien season. Södertälje SK were relegated to HockeyAllsvenskan....
for Modo, Forsberg was named an assistant general manager
General manager
General manager is a descriptive term for certain executives in a business operation. It is also a formal title held by some business executives, most commonly in the hospitality industry.-Generic usage:...
of the Modo organization.
International play
Played for SwedenSweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
in:
- 1992 World Championships1992 Men's World Ice Hockey Championships- Group 2 :- Consolation Round 11-12 Place :Poland was relegated to Group B.- Quarterfinals :- Semifinals :- Match for third place :- Final :-World Championship Group B :Played in Klagenfurt April 2-12...
(gold medal) - 1993 World Championships1993 Men's World Ice Hockey Championships- Group 2 :- Quarterfinals :- Consolation Round 9-12 Place :- Semifinals :- Consolation Round 11-12 Place :Switzerland was relegated to Group B.- Match for third place :- Final :-World Championship Group B :...
(silver medal) - 1994 Winter OlympicsIce hockey at the 1994 Winter OlympicsIce hockey at the 1994 Winter Olympics was held at the Fjellhallen in Gjøvik and the Håkons Hall in Lillehammer, Norway. The competition, held from February 12 to February 27, was won by Sweden and Canada as runner-up.-Final rankings:Source:* Gold -...
(gold medal) - 1996 World Cup of Hockey1996 World Cup of HockeyThe first World Cup of Hockey , or 1996 World Cup of Hockey, replaced the Canada Cup as one of the premier championships for professional ice hockey ....
(bronze medal) - 1998 Winter OlympicsIce hockey at the 1998 Winter OlympicsIce hockey at the 1998 Winter Olympics was played at The Big Hat and Aqua Wing Arena in Nagano, Japan.-Men's tournament:The 1998 Olympic men's ice hockey tournament was the first in which professional players from the National Hockey League were allowed to participate, allowing national teams to...
- 1998 World Championships1998 Men's World Ice Hockey Championships-World Championship Group C :Played March 22-28 in Budapest, Székesfehérvár and Dunaújváros.- Group 1 :- Group 2 :- Final Round 25-28 Place :Hungary was promoted to Group B.- Consolation Round 29-32 Place :...
(gold medal) - 2003 World Championships2003 Men's World Ice Hockey Championships-Relegation round: avoids relegation by defeating 4-1 in the 2004 IIHF World Championship Far East Qualification game. and are demoted to Division I at the 2004 Men's World Ice Hockey Championships.-Scoring leaders:-Goaltending leaders:-Group A:...
(silver medal) - 2004 World Cup of Hockey2004 World Cup of HockeyThe 2004 World Cup of Hockey was an international ice hockey tournament. It was the second installment of the National Hockey League -sanctioned competition eight years after the inaugural 1996 World Cup of Hockey. It was held from August 30 to September 14, 2004, and took place in various venues...
- 2004 World Championships2004 Men's World Ice Hockey ChampionshipsThe 2004 Men's Ice Hockey Championships were held April 24-May 9, 2004, in Prague and Ostrava, Czech Republic. Games for this Ice Hockey World Championships tournament were played at Sazka Arena and ČEZ Aréna...
(silver medal) - 2006 Winter OlympicsIce hockey at the 2006 Winter Olympics-Leading scorers:-Leading goaltenders:Goalkeepers with 40% or more of their team's total minutes.-Awards:Antero Niittymäki was named the most valuable player and received the Directorate Award for best goaltender of the tournament. Directorate Awards also went to Teemu Selänne for best forward, and...
(gold medal) - 2010 Winter OlympicsIce hockey at the 2010 Winter OlympicsIce hockey at the 2010 Winter Olympics was held at Canada Hockey Place, home of the National Hockey League's Vancouver Canucks, and at UBC Winter Sports Centre, home of the Canadian Interuniversity Sport's UBC Thunderbirds. Twelve teams competed in the men's event and eight teams competed in the...
Peter Forsberg has played in 13 competitions for the Swedish national senior team and three competitions as a junior. After debuting at the European Junior Ice Hockey Championships in 1991, he played in the World Junior Championships in 1992 where scored 11 points in seven games as Sweden won silver medal. He became a World Champion in 1992, when Sweden won the Ice Hockey World Championships
Ice Hockey World Championships
The Ice Hockey World Championships are an annual ice hockey tournament organized by the International Ice Hockey Federation . First officially held at the 1920 Summer Olympics, it is the sport's highest profile annual international tournament. The IIHF was created in 1908 while the European...
. In 1994, he led the Swedes to a gold medal in the Winter Olympics
Ice hockey at the 1994 Winter Olympics
Ice hockey at the 1994 Winter Olympics was held at the Fjellhallen in Gjøvik and the Håkons Hall in Lillehammer, Norway. The competition, held from February 12 to February 27, was won by Sweden and Canada as runner-up.-Final rankings:Source:* Gold -...
, scoring the winning goal of the penalty shootout that decided the gold medal game. Forsberg's "one hand, slide in" goal, a move which he borrowed from retired Swedish ice hockey player Kent Nilsson
Kent Nilsson
Kent Åke "Kenta" Nilsson is a retired professional ice hockey centre.During his NHL career he was called "Mr. Magic" and "The Magic Man"...
, has become popular in today's NHL. An image of Forsberg scoring this goal was later placed on a Swedish postage stamp
Postage stamp
A postage stamp is a small piece of paper that is purchased and displayed on an item of mail as evidence of payment of postage. Typically, stamps are made from special paper, with a national designation and denomination on the face, and a gum adhesive on the reverse side...
, making him the first hockey player to be placed on a Swedish stamp. The second player and so far only one besides Forsberg to be printed on a Swedish postage stamp is former Toronto Maple Leafs
Toronto Maple Leafs
The Toronto Maple Leafs are a professional ice hockey team based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League...
captain
Captain (ice hockey)
In ice hockey, each team can designate an official captain for each game. The player serving as captain during the game wears a "C" on his or her jersey...
Mats Sundin
Mats Sundin
Mats Johan Sundin is a retired Swedish professional ice hockey player. Originally drafted first overall in 1989, Sundin played his first four seasons in the NHL with the Quebec Nordiques. He was traded to the Toronto Maple Leafs in 1994, where he played the majority of his career, serving 11...
. Forsberg's famous move on Canadian goaltender Corey Hirsch
Corey Hirsch
Corey Hirsch is a retired Canadian ice hockey goaltender. He spent the majority of his National Hockey League career with the Vancouver Canucks. He is currently the goaltending coach for the St...
(who refused to allow his name to be shown on the stamp) has become so iconic in hockey that efforts to reproduce it inevitably draw references to Forsberg from hockey commentators.
In October 2007, it was announced that Forsberg would be playing for the Swedish national team in the Karjala Cup, though he was forced to withdraw from the team after just one practice session after experiencing continued problems with his foot. In November 2009, he did however play for Sweden in said tournament, including his 100th game for the Swedish national team against Russia on November 7.
Forsberg was on the 23 man roster to play for Sweden in the 2010 Olympics in Vancouver and he carried Sweden's flag during the opening ceremonies.
Regular season and playoffs
| Regular season | Playoffs | |||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season Season (sports) In an organized sports league, a season is the portion of one year in which regulated games of the sport are in session. For example, in Major League Baseball, one season lasts approximately from April 1 through October 1; in Association football, it is generally from August until May In an... |
Team | League | GP | G Goal (ice hockey) In ice hockey, a goal is scored when the puck completely crosses the goal line between the two goal posts and below the goal crossbar. A goal awards one point to the team attacking the goal scored upon, regardless of which team the player who actually deflected the puck into the goal belongs to... |
A Assist (ice hockey) In ice hockey, an assist is attributed to up to two players of the scoring team who shot, passed or deflected the puck towards the scoring teammate, or touched it in any other way which enabled the goal, meaning that they were "assisting" in the goal. There can be a maximum of two assists per goal... |
Pts Point (ice hockey) Point in ice hockey has three official meanings:* A point is awarded to a player for each goal scored or assist earned. The total number of goals plus assists equals total points. In some European leagues, a goal counts as two points, and an assist counts as one... |
+/– | PIM Penalty (ice hockey) A penalty in ice hockey is a punishment for inappropriate behavior. Most penalties are enforced by detaining the offending player within a penalty box for a set number of minutes, during which, the player can not participate in play. The offending team usually may not replace the player on the ice,... |
GP | G | A | Pts | +/– | PIM | ||
| 1989–90 | Modo Hockey Jr. | SWE Jr. | 30 | 15 | 12 | 27 | — | 42 | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1989–90 | Modo Hockey MODO Hockey Modo Hockey is a professional ice hockey club in Örnsköldsvik, Sweden. The club plays in Sweden's premier ice hockey league, the Elitserien. They were founded in 1921 and have won two Elitserien championships; in 1979 and 2007. The team's home arena is the Fjällräven Center since 2006... |
SEL Elitserien Elitserien, is a professional ice hockey league composed of twelve teams in Sweden... |
1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | — | 4 | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1990–91 | Modo Hockey Jr. | SWE Jr. | 39 | 38 | 64 | 102 | — | 56 | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1990–91 | Modo Hockey | SEL | 23 | 7 | 10 | 17 | — | 22 | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1991–92 | Modo Hockey | SEL | 39 | 9 | 18 | 28 | — | 78 | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1992–93 | Modo Hockey Jr. | SWE Jr. | 2 | 0 | 3 | 3 | — | 4 | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1992–93 | Modo Hockey | SEL | 39 | 23 | 24 | 47 | — | 92 | 3 | 4 | 1 | 5 | — | 0 | ||
| 1993–94 | Modo Hockey | SEL | 39 | 18 | 26 | 44 | — | 82 | 11 | 9 | 7 | 16 | — | 14 | ||
| 1994–95 | Modo Hockey | SEL | 11 | 5 | 9 | 14 | — | 20 | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1994–95 | Quebec Nordiques Quebec Nordiques The Quebec Nordiques were a professional ice hockey team based in Quebec City, Quebec, Canada. The Nordiques played in the World Hockey Association and the National Hockey League... |
NHL National Hockey League The National Hockey League is an unincorporated not-for-profit association which operates a major professional ice hockey league of 30 franchised member clubs, of which 7 are currently located in Canada and 23 in the United States... |
47 | 15 | 35 | 50 | +17 | 16 | 6 | 2 | 4 | 6 | +2 | 4 | ||
| 1995–96 | Colorado Avalanche Colorado Avalanche The Colorado Avalanche are a professional ice hockey team based in Denver, Colorado, United States. They are members of the Northwest Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League . The Avalanche have won the Stanley Cup twice, in 1995–96 and 2000–01. The franchise... |
NHL | 82 | 30 | 86 | 116 | +26 | 47 | 22 | 10 | 11 | 21 | +10 | 18 | ||
| 1996–97 | Colorado Avalanche | NHL | 65 | 28 | 58 | 86 | +31 | 73 | 14 | 5 | 12 | 17 | –6 | 10 | ||
| 1997–98 | Colorado Avalanche | NHL | 72 | 25 | 66 | 91 | +6 | 94 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 11 | +3 | 12 | ||
| 1998–99 | Colorado Avalanche | NHL | 78 | 30 | 67 | 97 | +27 | 108 | 19 | 8 | 16 | 24 | +7 | 31 | ||
| 1999–00 | Colorado Avalanche | NHL | 49 | 14 | 37 | 51 | +9 | 52 | 16 | 7 | 8 | 15 | +9 | 12 | ||
| 2000–01 | Colorado Avalanche | NHL | 73 | 27 | 62 | 89 | +23 | 54 | 11 | 4 | 10 | 14 | +5 | 6 | ||
| 2001–02 | Colorado Avalanche | NHL | Did not play (injury) | 20 | 9 | 18 | 27 | +8 | 20 | |||||||
| 2002–03 | Colorado Avalanche | NHL | 75 | 29 | 77 | 106 | +52 | 70 | 7 | 2 | 6 | 8 | +3 | 6 | ||
| 2003–04 | Colorado Avalanche | NHL | 39 | 18 | 37 | 55 | +16 | 30 | 11 | 4 | 7 | 11 | +6 | 12 | ||
| 2004–05 2004–05 Elitserien season The 2004–05 Elitserien season was the 30th season of Elitserien. It started on September 20, 2004, with the regular season ending March 1, 2005. The playoffs of the 81st Swedish Championship ended on April 11, with Frölunda HC taking the championship.... |
Modo Hockey | SEL | 33 | 13 | 26 | 39 | +14 | 88 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | ||
| 2005–06 | Philadelphia Flyers Philadelphia Flyers The Philadelphia Flyers are a professional ice hockey team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League... |
NHL | 60 | 19 | 56 | 75 | +21 | 46 | 6 | 4 | 4 | 8 | +2 | 6 | ||
| 2006–07 | Philadelphia Flyers | NHL | 40 | 11 | 29 | 40 | +2 | 72 | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2006–07 | Nashville Predators Nashville Predators The Nashville Predators are a professional ice hockey team based in Nashville, Tennessee. They are members of the Central Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League... |
NHL | 17 | 2 | 13 | 15 | +5 | 16 | 5 | 2 | 2 | 4 | +2 | 12 | ||
| 2007–08 | Colorado Avalanche | NHL | 9 | 1 | 13 | 14 | +7 | 8 | 7 | 1 | 4 | 5 | +3 | 14 | ||
| 2008–09 2008–09 Elitserien season The 2008–09 Elitserien season was the 34th season of Elitserien. It began on September 15, 2008, with the regular season ending February 28, 2009. The playoffs of the 85th Swedish Championship ended on April 8, with Färjestads BK taking the championship... |
Modo Hockey | SEL | 3 | 1 | 2 | 3 | +4 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2009–10 2009–10 Elitserien season The 2009–10 Elitserien season was the 35th season of Elitserien. It started on September 21, 2009 and ended on March 13, 2010. The playoffs started on March 18, 2010 and ended on April 24, 2010. HV71 won the playoffs, beating Timrå IK 4–1 in the quarter final series, Skellefteå AIK 4–1 in the semi... |
Modo Hockey | SEL | 23 | 11 | 19 | 30 | +11 | 66 | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2010–11 2010–11 NHL season The 2010–11 NHL season was the 94th season of operation of the National Hockey League . It was the fourth consecutive season that opened in Europe with NHL Premiere . A record three events were scheduled, all in previous NHL Premiere cities: Helsinki, Finland; Stockholm, Sweden; and Prague, Czech... |
Colorado Avalanche | NHL | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -2 | 4 | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| NHL totals | 708 | 249 | 636 | 885 | +238 | 690 | 151 | 64 | 107 | 171 | +54 | 163 | ||||
| SEL totals | 214 | 88 | 137 | 225 | — | 452 | 15 | 13 | 8 | 21 | — | 16 | ||||
| SWE jr. totals | 71 | 53 | 79 | 132 | — | 102 | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||||
International
| Year | Team | Event | Result | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1991 | Sweden | EJC | 6 | 5 | 12 | 17 | 16 | ||
| 1992 1992 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships The 1992 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships was the 16th edition of the World Junior Ice Hockey Championships and was held from December 26, 1991 until January 4, 1992. It was held in Füssen and Kaufbeuren, Germany... |
Sweden | WJC | 7 | 3 | 8 | 11 | 30 | ||
| 1992 1992 Men's World Ice Hockey Championships - Group 2 :- Consolation Round 11-12 Place :Poland was relegated to Group B.- Quarterfinals :- Semifinals :- Match for third place :- Final :-World Championship Group B :Played in Klagenfurt April 2-12... |
Sweden | WC Ice Hockey World Championships The Ice Hockey World Championships are an annual ice hockey tournament organized by the International Ice Hockey Federation . First officially held at the 1920 Summer Olympics, it is the sport's highest profile annual international tournament. The IIHF was created in 1908 while the European... |
8 | 4 | 2 | 6 | 6 | ||
| 1993 1993 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships The 1993 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships was the 17th edition of the World Junior Ice Hockey Championships and was held in Gävle, Sweden. Canada won the gold medal, its sixth championship, while Sweden won silver, and the combined team of the Czech and Slovak Republics won bronze... |
Sweden | WJC | 7 | 7 | 24 | 31 | 8 | ||
| 1993 1993 Men's World Ice Hockey Championships - Group 2 :- Quarterfinals :- Consolation Round 9-12 Place :- Semifinals :- Consolation Round 11-12 Place :Switzerland was relegated to Group B.- Match for third place :- Final :-World Championship Group B :... |
Sweden | WC | 8 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 12 | ||
| 1994 Ice hockey at the 1994 Winter Olympics Ice hockey at the 1994 Winter Olympics was held at the Fjellhallen in Gjøvik and the Håkons Hall in Lillehammer, Norway. The competition, held from February 12 to February 27, was won by Sweden and Canada as runner-up.-Final rankings:Source:* Gold -... |
Sweden | Oly Ice hockey at the Olympic Games Ice hockey tournaments have been staged at the Olympic Games since 1920. The men's tournament was introduced at the 1920 Summer Olympics and was transferred permanently to the Winter Olympic Games programme in 1924. The women's tournament was first held at the 1998 Winter Olympics... |
8 | 2 | 6 | 8 | 6 | ||
| 1996 1996 World Cup of Hockey The first World Cup of Hockey , or 1996 World Cup of Hockey, replaced the Canada Cup as one of the premier championships for professional ice hockey .... |
Sweden | WCup World Cup of Hockey The World Cup of Hockey is an international ice hockey tournament. Inaugurated in 1996, it is the successor to the previous Canada Cup, which ran from 1976 to 1991... |
4 | 1 | 4 | 5 | 6 | ||
| 1998 Ice hockey at the 1998 Winter Olympics Ice hockey at the 1998 Winter Olympics was played at The Big Hat and Aqua Wing Arena in Nagano, Japan.-Men's tournament:The 1998 Olympic men's ice hockey tournament was the first in which professional players from the National Hockey League were allowed to participate, allowing national teams to... |
Sweden | Oly | 5 | 4 | 1 | 4 | 5 | 6 | |
| 1998 1998 Men's World Ice Hockey Championships -World Championship Group C :Played March 22-28 in Budapest, Székesfehérvár and Dunaújváros.- Group 1 :- Group 2 :- Final Round 25-28 Place :Hungary was promoted to Group B.- Consolation Round 29-32 Place :... |
Sweden | WC | 7 | 6 | 5 | 11 | 0 | ||
| 2003 2003 Men's World Ice Hockey Championships -Relegation round: avoids relegation by defeating 4-1 in the 2004 IIHF World Championship Far East Qualification game. and are demoted to Division I at the 2004 Men's World Ice Hockey Championships.-Scoring leaders:-Goaltending leaders:-Group A:... |
Sweden | WC | 8 | 4 | 5 | 9 | 6 | ||
| 2004 2004 Men's World Ice Hockey Championships The 2004 Men's Ice Hockey Championships were held April 24-May 9, 2004, in Prague and Ostrava, Czech Republic. Games for this Ice Hockey World Championships tournament were played at Sazka Arena and ČEZ Aréna... |
Sweden | WC | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | ||
| 2004 2004 World Cup of Hockey The 2004 World Cup of Hockey was an international ice hockey tournament. It was the second installment of the National Hockey League -sanctioned competition eight years after the inaugural 1996 World Cup of Hockey. It was held from August 30 to September 14, 2004, and took place in various venues... |
Sweden | WCup | 5 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 0 | |
| 2006 Ice hockey at the 2006 Winter Olympics -Leading scorers:-Leading goaltenders:Goalkeepers with 40% or more of their team's total minutes.-Awards:Antero Niittymäki was named the most valuable player and received the Directorate Award for best goaltender of the tournament. Directorate Awards also went to Teemu Selänne for best forward, and... |
Sweden | Oly | 6 | 0 | 6 | 6 | 0 | ||
| 2010 Ice hockey at the 2010 Winter Olympics Ice hockey at the 2010 Winter Olympics was held at Canada Hockey Place, home of the National Hockey League's Vancouver Canucks, and at UBC Winter Sports Centre, home of the Canadian Interuniversity Sport's UBC Thunderbirds. Twelve teams competed in the men's event and eight teams competed in the... |
Sweden | Oly | 5 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | |
| Senior int'l totals | 63 | 20 | 37 | 57 | 46 | ||||
| Junior int'l totals | 20 | 15 | 44 | 59 | 54 | ||||
All-Star Games
| Year | Location | G | A | Pts | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1996 | Boston Boston Bruins The Boston Bruins are a professional ice hockey team based in Boston, Massachusetts, USA. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . The team has been in existence since 1924, and is the league's third-oldest team and its oldest in the... |
0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 1997 47th National Hockey League All-Star Game The 47th National Hockey League All-Star Game took place on January 18, 1997 at the San Jose Arena. The final score was Eastern Conference 11, Western Conference 7. This game was originally scheduled for the 1994-95 season, but was cancelled due to the 1994-95 NHL lockout.-Super Skills... |
San Jose San Jose Sharks The San Jose Sharks are a professional ice hockey team based in San Jose, California, United States. They are members of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League... |
— | — | — | |
| 1998 48th National Hockey League All-Star Game The 48th National Hockey League All-Star Game took place at General Motors Place in Vancouver, British Columbia, home to the Vancouver Canucks, on January 18, 1998.-The International Showdown:... |
Vancouver Vancouver Canucks The Vancouver Canucks are a professional ice hockey team based in Vancouver, :British Columbia, Canada. They are members of the Northwest Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League . The Canucks play their home games at Rogers Arena, formerly known as General Motors Place,... |
0 | 1 | 1 | |
| 1999 49th National Hockey League All-Star Game The 49th National Hockey League All-Star Game took place on January 24, 1999, at the Ice Palace in Tampa Bay, Florida, home to the Tampa Bay Lightning.-"North America" and the World:... |
Tampa Bay Tampa Bay Lightning The Tampa Bay Lightning are a professional ice hockey team based in Tampa, Florida. They are members of the Southeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . They have one Stanley Cup championship in their history, in 2003–04. They are often referred to as the... |
0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 2000 50th National Hockey League All-Star Game The 50th National Hockey League All-Star Game was part of the 1999–2000 NHL season, and took place in Toronto's Air Canada Centre on February 6, 2000.... |
Toronto Toronto Maple Leafs The Toronto Maple Leafs are a professional ice hockey team based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League... |
— | — | — | |
| 2001 51st National Hockey League All-Star Game The 51st National Hockey League All-Star Game took place on February 4, 2001, at Pepsi Center in Denver, Colorado. The final score was North America 14, World 12.-Super Skills Competition:... |
Denver Colorado Avalanche The Colorado Avalanche are a professional ice hockey team based in Denver, Colorado, United States. They are members of the Northwest Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League . The Avalanche have won the Stanley Cup twice, in 1995–96 and 2000–01. The franchise... |
1 | 2 | 3 | |
| 2003 53rd National Hockey League All-Star Game The 53rd National Hockey League All-Star Game was held during the 2002–03 NHL season, and took place at the Office Depot Center in Sunrise, Florida, the home of the Florida Panthers, on February 2, 2003... |
Florida Florida Panthers The Florida Panthers are a professional ice hockey team based in Sunrise, Florida, in the Miami metropolitan area. They are members of the Southeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . They play their games at the BankAtlantic Center in Sunrise and are the... |
1 | 0 | 1 | |
| All-Star totals | 2 | 3 | 5 | ||
Style of play
Peter Forsberg was a star forward, with "outstanding" playmaking skills and "great vision" who "possesses an excellent combination of skill and physical play". He was once considered by many as the best two-way player in the world. He is capable of combining physical play and hits with skill and is responsible offensively and defensively. Said to have a "Wayne GretzkyWayne Gretzky
Wayne Douglas Gretzky, CC is a Canadian former professional ice hockey player and former head coach. Nicknamed "The Great One", he is generally regarded as the best player in the history of the National Hockey League , and has been called "the greatest hockey player ever" by many sportswriters,...
-like" passing touch, he has been complimented by journalists and players for making the players around him better.
Injury proneness
Forsberg's style of play has led him to deal with several severe injuries. It has been said in the press that he is injury prone because he did not soften his game as he got older. In his 14 seasons as an NHL player, Forsberg missed an entire regular season and played in less than 90% of regular season games in eight other seasons.The first season in which he missed a significant part was 1996–97. Due to a bruise
Bruise
A bruise, also called a contusion, is a type of relatively minor hematoma of tissue in which capillaries and sometimes venules are damaged by trauma, allowing blood to seep into the surrounding interstitial tissues. Bruises can involve capillaries at the level of skin, subcutaneous tissue, muscle,...
d thigh
Thigh
In humans the thigh is the area between the pelvis and the knee. Anatomically, it is part of the lower limb.The single bone in the thigh is called the femur...
, Forsberg was out on 14 regular season games and three playoff games. In the off season before the 1999–2000 season, Forsberg underwent shoulder
Shoulder
The human shoulder is made up of three bones: the clavicle , the scapula , and the humerus as well as associated muscles, ligaments and tendons. The articulations between the bones of the shoulder make up the shoulder joints. The major joint of the shoulder is the glenohumeral joint, which...
surgery and missed the first 23 games of the season. He missed an extra 10 games due to shoulder injuries, a concussion and a hip pointer
Hip pointer
A hip pointer is a contusion on the pelvis caused by a direct blow to an iliac crest or hip bone. Contact sports are a frequent cause of this type of injury. The pain involved is due to the cluneal nerve that runs right along the Iliac Crest....
. After missing eight games due to a rib
Rib
In vertebrate anatomy, ribs are the long curved bones which form the rib cage. In most vertebrates, ribs surround the chest, enabling the lungs to expand and thus facilitate breathing by expanding the chest cavity. They serve to protect the lungs, heart, and other internal organs of the thorax...
injury in the 2000–01 regular season, Forsberg suffered a severe injury in the playoffs. After the last game of the conference semifinal against the Los Angeles Kings
Los Angeles Kings
The Los Angeles Kings are a professional ice hockey team based in Los Angeles, California. They are members of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League...
on May 9, 2001, he underwent surgery to remove a ruptured
Ruptured spleen
Rupture of the capsule of the spleen, an organ in the upper left part of the abdomen, is a situation that requires immediate medical attention. The rupture of a normal spleen can be caused by trauma, such as a car accident.-Function In the Body:...
spleen
Spleen
The spleen is an organ found in virtually all vertebrate animals with important roles in regard to red blood cells and the immune system. In humans, it is located in the left upper quadrant of the abdomen. It removes old red blood cells and holds a reserve of blood in case of hemorrhagic shock...
and it was announced that he would not play until the following season. In the beginning of the 2001–02 season, he took a leave of absence
Leave of absence
Leave of absence is a term used to describe a period of time that one is to be away from his/her primary job, while maintaining the status of employee...
to heal his injuries. In January 2002, the Colorado Avalanche
Colorado Avalanche
The Colorado Avalanche are a professional ice hockey team based in Denver, Colorado, United States. They are members of the Northwest Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League . The Avalanche have won the Stanley Cup twice, in 1995–96 and 2000–01. The franchise...
held a press conference but instead of announcing the expected return of Forsberg, announced that he had been submitted to reconstructive surgery
Reconstructive surgery
Reconstructive surgery is, in its broadest sense, the use of surgery to restore the form and function of the body, although Maxillo-Facial Surgeons, Plastic Surgeons and Otolaryngologists do reconstructive surgery on faces after trauma and to reconstruct the head and neck after cancer.Other...
on the peroneal
Peroneal
Peroneal refers to the lateral compartment of the leg. This Greek-derived medical term often refers to its well-known Latin analog, fibular.Peroneal can refer to:* Peroneal artery* Peroneal vein* Peroneal nerve* Peroneus brevis muscle...
tendon
Tendon
A tendon is a tough band of fibrous connective tissue that usually connects muscle to bone and is capable of withstanding tension. Tendons are similar to ligaments and fasciae as they are all made of collagen except that ligaments join one bone to another bone, and fasciae connect muscles to other...
s of his left foot (Forsberg would return for the playoffs that season, but foot problems would plague Forsberg for the rest of his career and eventually end it). In 2003–04 season, he missed 43 games: 19 with a groin
Groin
In human anatomy, the groin areas are the two creases at the junction of the torso with the legs, on either side of the pubic area. This is also known as the medial compartment of the thigh. A pulled groin muscle usually refers to a painful injury sustained by straining the hip adductor muscles...
and abdominal injury
During the lockout, while playing for MODO Hockey
MODO Hockey
Modo Hockey is a professional ice hockey club in Örnsköldsvik, Sweden. The club plays in Sweden's premier ice hockey league, the Elitserien. They were founded in 1921 and have won two Elitserien championships; in 1979 and 2007. The team's home arena is the Fjällräven Center since 2006...
, Forsberg had surgery after dislocating his left wrist and breaking a bone in the hand., and because of a bursa sac removal.
Legacy
At the end of the 2008–09 NHL season2008–09 NHL season
The 2008–09 NHL season was the 92nd season of operation of the National Hockey League . It was the first season since prior to the 2004–05 lockout in which every team played each other at least once during the season, following three seasons where teams only played against two divisions in the...
, Peter Forsberg was the fourth-highest all-time Swedish point scorer in the NHL regular season.
On the night of the Colorado Avalanche
Colorado Avalanche
The Colorado Avalanche are a professional ice hockey team based in Denver, Colorado, United States. They are members of the Northwest Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League . The Avalanche have won the Stanley Cup twice, in 1995–96 and 2000–01. The franchise...
's home opener of the 2011-2012 season, the Avalanche retired Peter Forsberg's #21, solidifying his legacy with the team.
Records
- Forsberg at the 1993 World Junior Championships set an all time tournament record with 31 points in only seven games. Also, he ranks first in career points among tournament scorers with 42 points (10 goals and 32 assists).
- With his second Olympic Gold in 2006 he became the third player in history to have enough titles to be a member of the Triple Gold ClubTriple Gold ClubThe Triple Gold Club is a term used to describe ice hockey players and coaches who have won an Olympic Games gold medal, a World Championship gold medal, and the Stanley Cup, the championship trophy of the National Hockey League...
twice (the others being Viacheslav FetisovViacheslav FetisovViacheslav "Slava" Alexandrovich Fetisov is a retired professional ice hockey defenseman...
and Igor LarionovIgor LarionovIgor Nikolayevich Larionov is a Russian retired professional ice hockey player, known as The Professor. Along with Viacheslav Fetisov, he was instrumental in breaking the barrier that stopped Soviet players from joining the National Hockey League . He primarily played the centre position, and is...
).
- Forsberg currently stands in the NHL's top 10 in all-time points-per-game, with 1.254 points-per-game in his career.
- He is ranked fourth all-time in NHL career assists-per-game with 0.901, behind only Wayne GretzkyWayne GretzkyWayne Douglas Gretzky, CC is a Canadian former professional ice hockey player and former head coach. Nicknamed "The Great One", he is generally regarded as the best player in the history of the National Hockey League , and has been called "the greatest hockey player ever" by many sportswriters,...
, Mario LemieuxMario LemieuxMario Lemieux, OC, CQ is a Canadian former professional ice hockey player. He is acknowledged to be one of the best players of all time. He played 17 seasons as a forward for the Pittsburgh Penguins of the National Hockey League between 1984 and 2006...
and Bobby OrrBobby OrrRobert Gordon "Bobby" Orr, OC is a Canadian former professional ice hockey player. Orr played in the National Hockey League for his entire career, the first ten seasons with the Boston Bruins, joining the Chicago Black Hawks for two more. Orr is widely acknowledged to be one of the greatest...
.
NHL
| Award | Year(s) |
|---|---|
| Art Ross Trophy Art Ross Trophy The Art Ross Trophy is awarded to the National Hockey League player who leads the league in scoring points at the end of the regular season. It was presented to the NHL by former player, general manager, and head coach Art Ross. The trophy has been awarded 61 times to 25 players since its inception... |
2003 |
| Bud Light Plus/Minus NHL Plus/Minus Award The NHL Plus-Minus Award is a trophy awarded annually by the National Hockey League to the ice hockey "player, having played a minimum of 60 games who leads the league in plus/minus statistics." It is sponsored by a commercial business, and it has been known under five different names... Award (shared with Milan Hejduk Milan Hejduk Milan Hejduk is a Czech professional ice hockey forward and the captain for the Colorado Avalanche of the National Hockey League .- Playing career :... ) |
2003 |
| Calder Memorial Trophy Calder Memorial Trophy The Calder Memorial Trophy is an annual award given "to the player selected as the most proficient in his first year of competition in the National Hockey League." The Rookie of the Year trophy has been awarded 79 times since its creation for the 1936–37 NHL season... |
1995 |
| Hart Memorial Trophy Hart Memorial Trophy The Hart Memorial Trophy, originally known as the Hart Trophy, the "oldest and most prestigious individual award in hockey", is awarded annually to the "player adjudged most valuable to his team" in the National Hockey League . The Hart Memorial Trophy has been awarded 86 times to 53 different... |
2003 |
| NHL All-Rookie Team NHL All-Rookie Team The NHL All-Rookie Team is chosen by the Professional Hockey Writers' Association from the best rookies in the National Hockey League at each position for the season just concluded based on their performance in that year... |
1995 |
| NHL First All-Star Team NHL All-Star Team The NHL All-Star Teams were first named at the end of the 1930–31 NHL season, to honor the best performers over the season at each position.Representatives of the Professional Hockey Writers' Association vote for the All-Star Team at the end of the regular season.The career leaders in citations are... |
1998, 1999, 2003 |
| Team award | Year(s) |
|---|---|
| Stanley Cup Stanley Cup The Stanley Cup is an ice hockey club trophy, awarded annually to the National Hockey League playoffs champion after the conclusion of the Stanley Cup Finals. It has been referred to as The Cup, Lord Stanley's Cup, The Holy Grail, or facetiously as Lord Stanley's Mug... |
1996 1996 Stanley Cup Finals The 1996 Stanley Cup Final NHL championship series was contested by two teams that had not existed three seasons before, the Colorado Avalanche and the Florida Panthers. The Avalanche won the Cup in a four game sweep to win the franchise's first Stanley Cup, in their first season in Denver since... , 2001 2001 Stanley Cup Finals The 2001 Stanley Cup Finals was contested by the Eastern Conference champion and defending Stanley Cup champion New Jersey Devils and the Western Conference champion Colorado Avalanche, making the franchise's second Stanley Cup Finals appearance, and first since the team won the 1996 Finals. The... |
Elitserien
| Award | Year(s) |
|---|---|
| Guldpucken Guldpucken Guldpucken is awarded annually to the ice hockey player of the year in Sweden. It is similar to the NHL's Hart Memorial Trophy. Normally it goes to a player in the Swedish Elite League... |
1993, 1994 |
| Guldhjälmen Guldhjälmen Guldhjälmen is a Swedish ice hockey award, which is awarded annually to Elitserien's most valuable player as decided by a vote of its players.... |
1993, 1994 |
International
| Award | Year(s) |
|---|---|
| World Junior Championship World Junior Ice Hockey Championships The International Ice Hockey Federation World Under 20 Championship is an annual event organized by the International Ice Hockey Federation for national under-20 ice hockey teams from around the world... A - All-Star Team |
1993 1993 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships The 1993 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships was the 17th edition of the World Junior Ice Hockey Championships and was held in Gävle, Sweden. Canada won the gold medal, its sixth championship, while Sweden won silver, and the combined team of the Czech and Slovak Republics won bronze... |
| World Junior Championship A - Best Forward | 1993 |
| World Championship A - All-Star Team | 1998 1998 Men's World Ice Hockey Championships -World Championship Group C :Played March 22-28 in Budapest, Székesfehérvár and Dunaújváros.- Group 1 :- Group 2 :- Final Round 25-28 Place :Hungary was promoted to Group B.- Consolation Round 29-32 Place :... |
| World Championship A - Best Forward | 1998 |
Other awards
| Award | Year(s) |
|---|---|
| Viking Award Viking Award The Viking Award is awarded annually to the best Swedish ice hockey player in North America. The winner is decided by a vote among the players themselves. Only Mats Sundin has received the award four times. Peter Forsberg, Markus Näslund and Börje Salming have received it three... |
1996, 1998, 1999, 2003 |
| Yanick Dupre Memorial | 2006 |
| Stora Grabbars Märke Stora Grabbars Märke Stora Grabbars Märke is an honorary award within Swedish sports, created in 1928 by Bo Ekelund. The recipients are called a 'Stor Grabb' and has to gather a certain amount of points according to different rules depending on the sport in question... |
2009 |
Awards information taken from NHL.com.