Peter Forsberg officially is not “coming through that door” for the Avalanche — or any other NHL team.
After weeks of hope, Forsberg closed the door on a return to the NHL this season, his damaged right ankle not up to the level he needed in order to play.
Forsberg’s agent, Don Baizley, confirmed his client wouldn’t sign with any team, saying Forsberg didn’t feel confident enough in the ankle.
The Avs were among the few teams with a realistic hope of signing Forsberg, who did not say anything about playing beyond this season.
But after the past couple of weeks of virtual silence from Sweden, speculation intensified in Avs circles that the former Hart Trophy winner wasn’t feeling good enough to return.
One person with knowledge of Forsberg’s situation said the Swede’s lack of comfort in his right skate was so acute that he tried on 30 different pairs of skates in just a few days — and that his hands had gotten so chafed from tying shoelaces all the time that he needed golf gloves to ease the pain.
Avs veteran Ian Laperriere said Forsberg’s return would have been great for the NHL.
“But on the other hand, I’m glad he’s not coming back against us,” Laperriere said. “He’s a great player and it would have been exciting for the league and whatever team had gotten him. But to be honest, I’m glad I won’t be having to play against him.”
