Former Avalanche center Peter Forsberg scored a goal as his latest comeback attempt kicked off Thursday night, but his Modo team lost its Swedish Elite League opener 4-2 to Frolunda in Forsberg’s hometown of Ornskoldsvik.
Forsberg is under a one-week tryout contract with Modo as he determines his possible readiness to play in the NHL. If he plays a European league game on or after Oct. 1, he won’t be eligible for the NHL this season. He played left wing on Modo’s third line Thursday and was on the ice for 15:45.
Forsberg said his shot that beat former NHL goalie Johan Holmqvist at 5:44 of the first period “was a totally bad shot, but that’s probably what fooled him.” He told Swedish reporters of this play: “I’m not happy with anything. I have to play better if I’m going back to the NHL. Of course it was nice to score. We’ll see if it will be better or worse (in Modo’s next game) against Djurgarden.”
Forsberg is listed on Sweden’s preliminary roster for the 2010 Olympics next February in Vancouver.
“I’ll play two more games before I decide what’s going to happen,” Forsberg said. “I have all doors open. Of course, I want to play with Modo, with Sweden in the world championship and the Olympics, and also return to the NHL.”
Forsberg, 36, didn’t play in the NHL last season after signing with Colorado late in the 2007-08 season, playing nine games down the stretch and then seven in the postseason. He is an unrestricted free agent for NHL purposes. He has undergone additional surgery on his troublesome foot since, but he declined to talk about how his foot felt Thursday, saying he wanted to play at least one more game before making any pronouncements.
