Forsberg One More Time?

News out of Denver is that Peter Forsberg is back and skating with the Avalanche.  This of course it going to bring a lot of mixed feelings about given that he has attempted comebacks before only to have injury claim him again ... and of course he is only skating with the team to see where he stands in terms of health and he has no actual contract.  However despite those two minor things this is BIG news.

Love him or hate him Foppa was a hell of a hockey player, one of the most dominant in the game during his prime.  Only injuries could stop him.  He was a gifted player with incredible hands that could see the ice like few others ... but that wasn't it.  He was also a physical force who not only didn't shy away from contact but sought it out.  Few players have ever had as much heart and love for the game that Peter Forsberg did either.

He did attempt a comeback a few years back, and during that comeback was better than a point per game player but his foot would not cooperate and he was out as much as in.  He has also played for MODO in Sweden for the past couple of years while trying surgery after surgery to repair his foot.  He says his foot is feeling good right now though and it could be a great sign that he stepped up from training in Sweden to come to Denver and train with the Avalanche against NHL talent.  Why come all this way if things aren't looking up?

Now if he can make a comeback there are going to be people who are happy and people who aren't.  Beyond the injury he is now also getting up in age for a hockey player at 36.  He would become one of the oldest players on the young Avalanche roster and many would wonder if he still has it or if he does, if he can stay healthy.

Me personally, I would love to see him come back especially after the way the team has looked these past couple of games.  The roster is littered with injuries to the top 6 forwards already and if he can go he would step right in there.  His heart would also jump start this team out of their funk I would hope and his physical play would be a huge asset to a team needing a bit more grit.  His experience and leadership would be great as well for such a young group of forwards with very little playoff experience beyond Hejduk.

Yes, it is still a long shot that he comes back to the NHL ... and yes, his health will be a question mark until proven otherwise ... but for this Avalanche fan (and perhaps a large part of this is remembering who he was for this team and how he was) the prospect of adding Forsberg to the lineup for the rest of the year is exciting.

For now enjoy a showing of what he brought to the ice...