By Eric Redner
Now that the Flyers season means nothing the team would be smart to move Peter Forsberg for several reasons.
First, depending on where he went, he could play fewer minutes, take a game off here and there to conserve his strength, and be someone that younger players can learn from. He deserves another shot at a championship and that certainly is not going to happen here.
Second, there is still a lot of value left in him and Philadelphia could get some substantial pieces in return. Current players, prospects, draft picks; all things that this travesty of a team needs.
Third, what is the point of having an All-Star player who shines in the post-season on a team that could only make the playoffs if they somehow managed to win their final 35 games of the season.
Fourth, most likely Forsberg would be sent to a team on a rental basis, a la Mark Recchi and Doug Weight. There might be some kind of silent agreement that Forsberg would be back in the Orange and Black for the start of the 2007-08 season.
Those thing said, I will give you a bit of a breakdown on several teams I believe would benefit from having Foppa on the squad.
1. Nashville Predators
Nashville needs to become a bit more productive on the power play and a center to make its other forwards more productive. Forsberg could help and Nashville has young players to give up. Colorado made a move years back to get Patrick Roy and it won them the Stanley Cup. Could getting Forsberg do the same for Nashville? Side bonus, he could bring more interest for a team that is struggling to draw fans.
2. Detroit Red Wings
The Red Wings need some help up front. The team currently ranks 13th in goals for and just 18th on the power play. Detroit lost "The Captain" last season and needs a player who can guide them in the playoffs. But, would Forsberg want to go to Hockeytown after so many years in Colorado, a very heated rivalry.
3. Calgary Flames
This team desperately needs some offensive help. While seventh overall in goals for, the team is an atrocious 15.2 percent (26th overall) on the powerplay. The Flames have the defense that helps win Cups, but special teams also are a big factor in winning championships and Forsberg could easily help raise the Flames power play by five percent or so.
4. Minnesota Wild
Minnesota desperately needs more goals and a more proficient power play. The team has a plethora of centers and some good blueliners that could be dangled in front of a Flyers team that needs everything. This team has the defense, now all they need is the offense. Personally I'd love to see Marian Gaborik lace up the skates for Philly, but I highly doubt Minnesota would ever give him up.
5. New York Rangers
This has been the popular rumor on where Foppa is going to head to. A report earlier in the week had Forsberg going to the Big Apple for Petr Prucha, 20-year old center Brandon Dubinsky and a first round pick in 2007 or 2008. While I hate the Blueshirts and the last thing I want to see is another Cup on Broadway, I would gladly rent Forsberg out for this kind of deal. You could almost picture the Rangers going with five forwards on their power play,Brendan Shanahan, Michael Nylander and Martin Straka up front with Forsberg and Jaromir Jagr working the points. That would be a scary sight to see.
Now that the Flyers season means nothing the team would be smart to move Peter Forsberg for several reasons.
First, depending on where he went, he could play fewer minutes, take a game off here and there to conserve his strength, and be someone that younger players can learn from. He deserves another shot at a championship and that certainly is not going to happen here.
Second, there is still a lot of value left in him and Philadelphia could get some substantial pieces in return. Current players, prospects, draft picks; all things that this travesty of a team needs.
Third, what is the point of having an All-Star player who shines in the post-season on a team that could only make the playoffs if they somehow managed to win their final 35 games of the season.
Fourth, most likely Forsberg would be sent to a team on a rental basis, a la Mark Recchi and Doug Weight. There might be some kind of silent agreement that Forsberg would be back in the Orange and Black for the start of the 2007-08 season.
Those thing said, I will give you a bit of a breakdown on several teams I believe would benefit from having Foppa on the squad.
1. Nashville Predators
Nashville needs to become a bit more productive on the power play and a center to make its other forwards more productive. Forsberg could help and Nashville has young players to give up. Colorado made a move years back to get Patrick Roy and it won them the Stanley Cup. Could getting Forsberg do the same for Nashville? Side bonus, he could bring more interest for a team that is struggling to draw fans.
2. Detroit Red Wings
The Red Wings need some help up front. The team currently ranks 13th in goals for and just 18th on the power play. Detroit lost "The Captain" last season and needs a player who can guide them in the playoffs. But, would Forsberg want to go to Hockeytown after so many years in Colorado, a very heated rivalry.
3. Calgary Flames
This team desperately needs some offensive help. While seventh overall in goals for, the team is an atrocious 15.2 percent (26th overall) on the powerplay. The Flames have the defense that helps win Cups, but special teams also are a big factor in winning championships and Forsberg could easily help raise the Flames power play by five percent or so.
4. Minnesota Wild
Minnesota desperately needs more goals and a more proficient power play. The team has a plethora of centers and some good blueliners that could be dangled in front of a Flyers team that needs everything. This team has the defense, now all they need is the offense. Personally I'd love to see Marian Gaborik lace up the skates for Philly, but I highly doubt Minnesota would ever give him up.
5. New York Rangers
This has been the popular rumor on where Foppa is going to head to. A report earlier in the week had Forsberg going to the Big Apple for Petr Prucha, 20-year old center Brandon Dubinsky and a first round pick in 2007 or 2008. While I hate the Blueshirts and the last thing I want to see is another Cup on Broadway, I would gladly rent Forsberg out for this kind of deal. You could almost picture the Rangers going with five forwards on their power play,Brendan Shanahan, Michael Nylander and Martin Straka up front with Forsberg and Jaromir Jagr working the points. That would be a scary sight to see.
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