By Steven Lienert
Peter Forsberg is one captain that isn't going down with his rudderless ship.
And it's disgusting.
I thought hockey players were supposed to be the last bastion of 'team-first' guys. I thought, in hockey, it's all about the crest on the front of your sweater instead of what's stitched across the back of your shoulders.
Forsberg wants out of Philly? Good riddance.
With a 'leader' like Forsberg, it's no wonder the Flyers are the worst team BY FAR in the NHL.
In fact, without Joe Sakic, Forsberg wouldn't be regarded as highly as he is.
Without Sakic donning the 'C' in Denver, Forsberg wouldn't have, couldn't have led the Avs to two Stanley Cup titles. Without Sakic, Forsberg would have been exactly what he is in Philadelphia: A whiny prima-donna that used an ill-fitting skate as an excuse not play for the worst team in hockey.
I was psyched when Forsberg signed here. With a healthy Keith Primeau, two decent goalies and a young Simon Gagne, I thought Forsberg would have been the guy to push the Flyers over the top.
His signing, though, masked the organization's depleted and cement-footed defensive corps. And without another guy to captain the ship, Forsberg was exposed as the fraudulent leader he really is.
That's why the Flyers will never bestow the same honor to Forsberg that they would to some other former captains. You know, guys that new what it meant to be a Flyer.
Yeah, I cheered in 1992 when the Flyers got Lindros and gave away Forsberg. And when Forsberg was hoisting Cups while Lindros sipped on apple sauce, I lamented the trade and wished Forsberg had been a Flyer for life.
Now I'm actually happy with the way things worked out. If we had counted on Forsberg to carry the squad all those years, the team would have had nearly the same amount of success that it had.
Forsberg never got it. And he never will.
Peter the Great my @#%.
Loyal to Lienert? Email him at slienert@phanaticmag.com
10 comments:
The guy has won two stanley cups and a gold medal my friend. Did you ever think the Flyers brass made a wrong choice in naming him captain. If you knew anything hockey, he has never been a captain before Philly. He isn't a vocal type leader, he leads by example on the ice.
Also Mr. Phanatic "NHL Editor", if you knew anything about the sport, you would know that hockey players and their equipment are like a marriage. Mark Messier used to wear a new pair of skates every game because he was so particular about the way they felt.
Forsberg is a great player that has the hardware to prove it. You also fail to recognize that it is in the Flyers best interest to deal him, they just do not want to publicly look like the bad guy.
What an idiot article,Forsberg have been injured and this team is invisable without him. Maybe he's not a captain but he's the best one out there. If he gets to a team with two competing lines with two good centers they will trigger eachothers and bring home the Cup.
There isn't any better out there its a fact
This writer is a clown. The Flyers are winless this season when Forsberg doesn't play.
Do you actually read what you write?
Way to go Phanatic. Peter Forsberg isn't great.
Honors and Awards
2005-06 Olympic Gold Medal
2002-03 NHL - Hart Trophy (MVP)
2002-03 NHL - Art Ross Trophy (Leading Scorer)
2002-03 NHL - Bud Light Plus/Minus Award (shared with Milan Hejduk)
2002-03 NHL - First All-Star Team
2002-03 Played in NHL All-Star
2000-01 Stanley Cup (Colorado)
2000-01 Played in NHL All-Star
1998-99 NHL - First All-Star Team
1998-99 Played in NHL All-Star
1997-98 NHL - First All-Star Team
1997-98 Played in NHL All-Star
1995-96 Stanley Cup (Colorado)
1995-96 Played in NHL All-Star
1994-95 NHL - Calder Memorial Trophy (Rookie of the Year)
1994-95 NHL - All-Rookie Team
1993-94 Olympic Gold Medal
Were you drunk when you wrote this?
I hate Forsberg, it's like Jagr, they suck.
This writer never got it. And he never will.
You must be the biggest idiot in history, I do hope you realize that Forsberg doesn't want to leave the Flyers. But with the way the Flyers played this season Forsberg feels like he owns the Flyers something and are (maybe) willing to waive his NTC in the reminder of the season so that he can sign a new contract with Flyers in the offseason, just because of the help the Flyers would get in return for him in the reminder of the season.
Forsberg is probably the most honest athlete ive seen.
And wtf is this!?
"In fact, without Joe Sakic, Forsberg wouldn't be regarded as highly as he is."
Neither would Sakic without Forsberg, neither would Jagr & Lemeieux, neither would Gretzky & Messier etc. etc.
Forsberg was the cornerstone of the Avalanche, his line allways faced the opponents best line because they knew that line was more lethal than Sakic's line were.
"Without Sakic donning the 'C' in Denver, Forsberg wouldn't have, couldn't have led the Avs to two Stanley Cup titles. Without Sakic, Forsberg would have been exactly what he is in Philadelphia: A whiny prima-donna that used an ill-fitting skate as an excuse not play for the worst team in hockey."
Forsberg is a WINNER.
just look at his playoffs stats and you will see, when it matters the most Forsberg is the BEST.
And you say Forsberg has no heart.
"Ask Lemieux what makes a perfect player, and he will tell you hands, great vision and heart.
His picks for perfection in those three areas?
"Well, the vision would be Gretz, for sure. The heart would have to be Forsberg.
"And I'll take the hands," he said, laughing.
Once again, Peter Forsberg says he wants to stay in Philadelphia as a member of the Flyers.
But he remains uncertain whether his surgically repaired right foot is ever going to be 100 percent healthy.
And until he feels totally comfortable, he will not commit to re-signing or waiving his no-trade clause.
That was the latest in the Forsberg Foot Follies following Sunday's meeting with club chairman Ed Snider.
"I said I wanted to stay," Forsberg said yesterday. "I wanted to get my foot fixed, and then I would think about my future. That is what I said all along."
http://www.philly.com/mld/philly/sports/hockey/16684744.htm
Gagne today is quoted as saying: "I don't think he wants to leave.
Sidenote: Simon Gagne averaged 1.3 points in the 51 games he played with Forsberg last season
and under 0.6 in the 21 games without him.
You could say that Gagne is nothing without Forsberg aswell.
I dont even know why I took the time to explain these simple facts to you, people like you have no heart.
First of all, Forsberg has never said he wants out of Philly. He has said he likes it here but he doesn't want to re-sign because he doesn't want to make any commitments without knowing if his foot can hold up. He will retire if his foot can't hold up. He doesn't want to receive a paycheck if he can't play. That is anything but selfish.
Secondly, the best thing Peter could do for the Flyers is to agree to be traded to the highest bidder and then re-sign as a UFA. It doesn't mean he bailed on his team if he is traded. It doesn't mean the Peter Forsberg era will be over. He could simply be doing what is best for the Flyers' future.
It sounds like you are the one who doesn't get it.
this is quite possibly the most ignorant, baseless article I have ever read in my entire life...do you even watch hockey? you're an idiot...
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