Rumors and speculation about a possible Peter Forsberg return to the Avalanche have been floating around nearly all season – or since Forsberg’s Philadelphia Flyers got off to a horrible start, seemed likely to miss the playoffs, and were in a position to ponder cutting their payroll.
Forsberg’s Winnipeg-based agent, Don Baizley, Thursday said that as far as he knew, there was nothing to the latest round of speculation, which followed a trade rumor tossed out last week by a Quebec radio host, Michel Bergeron, who once coached the Quebec Nordiques. Denver television station KMGH-TV reported that Forsberg had spoken directly with Avalanche officials, but Baizley and Flyers general manager Paul Holmgren on Thursday said they were unaware of such conversations.
“There’s nothing to it that I’m aware of,” said Baizley, who said he last had spoken with Forsberg, who was in Sweden at the time, on Wednesday. Baizley said at no point in that conversation did they talk about Colorado.
Holmgren also told The Associated Press that the report was incorrect, and that the Flyers wouldn’t have approved a request by Forsberg to speak to the Avalanche. He confirmed the Avalanche was one of many teams that had inquired about Forsberg.
“I’ve talked with Peter a few times, but not about whether he wants to be traded or where he wants to go,” Holmgren said.
Baizley said he and Forsberg have been focusing on his foot and skate issues, and that they have made it clear they would talk with the Flyers about a possible new contract for 2007-08 and beyond only after Forsberg is comfortable he can resolve those problems.
Holmgren agreed with that assessment, adding: “Our focus has been on getting his skate-foot issues fixed. Then doing something (a contract) with the Flyers.”
Last week, Bergeron floated a possible Forsberg-for-Jose Theodore trade, one which makes perfect sense – but only to the Avs. Their salary cap numbers (Forsberg $5.75 million, Theodore $5.33 million) are in the same range, important for two teams pushing the NHL salary cap, but Forsberg’s deal is up after this season and the benched Theodore has one more year on his contract, at $6 million. So the Flyers would be out from under any obligation to Forsberg after this season, but taking Theodore would commit them to a $5.3 million cap hit for next season – and for a goalie who at least at this point seems to have washed out with his second straight team.
Deals that would seem to make more sense for the Flyers, if they simply want to unload payroll for the rest of the season, would involve teams well under the salary cap acquiring Forsberg for draft choices or prospects for a final push this season. The Nashville Predators head the list of teams that would make sense as a home for Forsberg, at least for the rest of the season.
Avs spokesman Jean Martineau also denied the report, noting both general manager Francois Giguere and team president Pierre Lacroix were in Dallas for the All-Star Game and that Forsberg was in Sweden this week.
“We wish him all the best, but we don’t comment on speculation like that,” Avs coach Joel Quenneville said of the rumors.
Terry Frei can be reached at 303-954-1895 or tfrei@denverpost.com.
