Avalanche general manager Francois Giguere today said Peter Forsberg is expected to arrive in Denver this evening, skate on Saturday morning at the Pepsi Center and possibly be available for Saturday night’s game against the Los Angeles Kings.
“That’s going to be a decision Peter’s going to have to make and that’s going to be made with our coaching staff,” Giguere said at a news conference at Family Sports Center after the team’s practice today.
Avs coach Joel Quenneville, however, said it was “probably very doubtful” that Forsberg would play in the 6 p.m. Saturday game against the Kings.
“We’ll visit with him in the morning,” Quenneville said. “I think it’s more Peter’s call. He knows his body. I think if he gets some practice with the players between Saturday’s game and Tuesday’s game (against Vancouver), that would be beneficial for him.”
The team said the plan was for Forsberg to skate with injured and extra players at 9:30 a.m. on Saturday after arriving tonight from Vancouver.
As of Thursday night, about 800 tickets remained for Saturday’s game.
Forsberg spent Thursday in Vancouver after the Avalanche beat the Canucks in a shootout there Wednesday. He skated there on Thursday with assistant coach Tony Granato, who remained behind after the team departed. Forsberg filed paperwork for a P-1 visa, commonly given to nonresident athletes and entertainers who work temporarily in the United States and Canada. Such visas typically last 1-3 years. When he signed with Colorado Monday, Forsberg’s visa was expired.
Paul Andrews, executive vice president of Kroenke Sports Enterprises, said Thursday that 2,000 tickets for Tuesday’s game were left, and 2,500 remained for Thursday’s game against defending Stanley Cup champion Anaheim.
Andrews said the Avs have sold 7,000 additional single-game tickets since they acquired Forsberg, 34, and another fan favorite, defenseman Adam Foote, 36, at the NHL trade deadline. That included 100 “Stretch Run” ticket packages on the Internet after Tuesday’s game against Calgary.
The Avs are in the No. 8 spot, the final playoff position, in the Western Conference. Nashville also has 72 points, but Colorado is listed eighth on a tiebreaker. The Avs are just three points behind Northwest division leader Minnesota.
