Holmgren offered Forsberg a contract in March; Would you have been okay with that?

by Travis Hughes on Jun 14, 2010 5:25 PM EDT in Commentary

Back in March, former Flyer Peter Forsberg was offered a contract by Paul Holmgren. If he accepted, the oft-injured Forsberg would have returned to the Philadelphia lineup just in time for the playoffs. Obviously, he didn't. NHL.com has the details, in case you missed the story over the weekend.

Forsberg recently told the Swedish newspaper Expressen that he was offered a contract by Flyers General Manager Paul Holmgren to join the team on March 2. Forsberg, who stands ninth all-time in career points-per-game (1.254) and fourth all-time in career assists per game (0.901) in 13 NHL seasons, declined for fear his injuries would limit his ability on the big stage at this point in his career.

"Yeah, it's true," Forsberg told Expressen of Holmgren's desire to re-sign the 1995 Calder Trophy recipient. "But I felt that I wasn't in good enough shape to go."

Forsberg has been hobbled for years now, dating back to his Flyers days in the mid-2000s. His foot problems have plagued past NHL comeback attempts and they've prevented him from playing in most of the games with his Swedish team, MODO.

But when he does play, he's still a world-class hockey player. In his last NHL action in 2007-08 with Colorado, Forsberg put up 14 points in nine games. With MODO last year, he only played 23 games, but he still put up 30 points, 11 goals.

If Forsberg opted to come over and play for the Flyers this March, would you have been happy with the move? It's clear that he wasn't 100 percent healthy, but if you could still get him in a spot where he'd be somewhat effective (and by all accounts, whenever he plays, he's still effective), would you have asked James van Riemsdyk to hand over his number for a few months so Forsberg could return?

Poll

Would you have been okay with Peter Forsberg's return to the Flyers back in March?

Yes

320 votes

No

202 votes

522 votes | Poll has closed

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Comments

Foppa at 3/4 or even 1/2 speed is still an amazing player, too good to pass up if he wants to play.

by TopShelfTony on Jun 14, 2010 5:29 PM EDT reply actions

If his foot’s good, yes, I sign him for the playoffs.

by Ben Feldman on Jun 14, 2010 5:37 PM EDT reply actions

Mighty big “if.” I think his NHL days are behind him, but I would love to be wrong. Seems like te Flyers have been trying to right the Forsberg trade wrong for a decade now.

"Tortorella’s got it all wrong ... Gaborik shouldn’t be messing with our skilled player." -Peter Luukko

by doubleh on Jun 14, 2010 6:15 PM EDT up reply actions

A rental for the playoffs -- 3 months -- that costs you nothing but money (no picks, etc.)?

If the guy could contribute in any way, why wouldn’t you sign him under those circumstances.

394–129–3

by mushdamma on Jun 14, 2010 7:21 PM EDT up reply actions

It did probably cost us a cup or two after all :(

by PursuitOfLappyness on Jun 14, 2010 7:38 PM EDT up reply actions

If you get a Delorean put in a flux capacitor and go back in time to reverse the Lindros trade then yes I am happy to have Forsberg here. Otherwise it seems apparent, even to him, that he can’t compete at the NHL level anymore

"Game 7's are tough... It's a game that's made for men and our guys proved to be men today." -Laviolette

by PatterPoet95 on Jun 14, 2010 6:07 PM EDT reply actions

For that scenario you might need an explosive space modulator instead.

by TopShelfTony on Jun 14, 2010 6:12 PM EDT up reply actions

And what do you know of those, EARTHLING?

by JerseyDriver on Jun 14, 2010 6:22 PM EDT up reply actions

When you ask questions like this

you make me very very angry!

by TopShelfTony on Jun 14, 2010 7:44 PM EDT up reply actions

Best. Character. EVER.

by JerseyDriver on Jun 14, 2010 7:59 PM EDT up reply actions

No argument here, brother.

by TopShelfTony on Jun 14, 2010 8:04 PM EDT up reply actions

Enjoy

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uoHUGHb97MA&feature=related

by TopShelfTony on Jun 14, 2010 8:07 PM EDT up reply actions

Ah say, Ah say there son,

there’s a case to be made for a southern gentleman rooster, too.

Look at me when I’m talkin’ to you, son!

(Nice boy, but about as thick as two planks stuck together with stupid glue!)

January 11, 1976

by TopShelfTony on Jun 18, 2010 7:56 PM EDT up reply actions

Reversing the trade

Rather than simply reversing the trade, would it have been better to wish for the arbitrator deciding on the Rangers offer instead? It would be a pain having Lindros in our division playing against us in the 90s, but then we would have got to keep that Forsberg kid, and the Rags would’ve traded all their depth for Lindros.

by PursuitOfLappyness on Jun 14, 2010 7:40 PM EDT up reply actions

And they probably wouldn’t have been able to get Messier and 94 would have been our cup instead of the Rangers…

"Game 7's are tough... It's a game that's made for men and our guys proved to be men today." -Laviolette

by PatterPoet95 on Jun 15, 2010 10:19 AM EDT up reply actions

As long as it is not too big of a cap hit – its worth the risk

by SanDiegoScraps on Jun 14, 2010 6:07 PM EDT reply actions

The Flyers didn’t groom enough offensive depth during the season, so bringing some in at the deadline may have helped.

New Zealand's 4th best Philadelphia Flyers fan

by ToddtheFox on Jun 14, 2010 6:15 PM EDT reply actions

We have the new Foppa in G anyway, but the season he was here was great. And then sucked. And then was great again. And then sucked. Seems to be a pattern there, and as good as he was, when he was at the 15th doctor / skate specialist / medicine man / miracle worker that was going to fix his ankle or boot, it got really annoying. Huge fan of his work, but even with the perfect chemistry between he and Gags, it didn’t do the team much good when he couldn’t play.

And since the article says he STILL has issues playing, how would it have helped to practice with a guy and then had him play every 3rd or 4th game when the injury happened?

I’m glad it didn’t work out, because as much as it sucked to lose (which I don’t think that would have changed with him on the team) we found out what all the players on this team are made of and who can do what, both the bad and good, and now management has clear things to work on for the next season.

The Flyers now have a great TEAM in my opinion, and should contend again next year for the Cup, with a few key additions.

by JerseyDriver on Jun 14, 2010 6:38 PM EDT reply actions

A playoff run is the exact kind of thing Forsberg would be suited for. He clearly cant stay healthy for long streches, but, as was stated, when he plays, hes great. All he would have had to do was stay healthy for 16 or so games. This would have been a great pick up.

by philiafan14364 on Jun 14, 2010 7:19 PM EDT reply actions

Maybe this is an idea to keep on the back burner for next Spring?

#1 Flyers fan in England (originally from Southeastern PA)

by Orange and Black Forever on Jun 15, 2010 6:58 AM EDT up reply actions

Initial reaction is it would’ve been awesome to have Forsberg for the playoff run. However if you think about it having Forsberg means it would have been less likely for Leino to enter the lineup and Briere to move to center. These time travel things can get complicated.

But in foresight, I see some potential benefit of having a cheaply paid Foppa playing on the Flyers’ third line with Giroux and JVR next season. He won’t have to play many minutes. He could mentor those young guys, especially Giroux. And the sick playmaking coming out of that line would be just awesome.

by PursuitOfLappyness on Jun 14, 2010 7:43 PM EDT reply actions