Not Ready To Return From Ruptured Spleen
Posted: 5:15 p.m. EDT September 15, 2001
STOCKHOLM, Sweden -- Six-time NHL All-Star Peter Forsberg is taking a leave of absence after missing the Colorado Avalanche's run to the Stanley Cup title because of a ruptured spleen. Peter Forsberg said at a news conference in Stockholm that he'll continue to work out, but right now isn't in the proper frame of mind to return to playing.
"I'm not retiring," he said at a news conference Saturday at Stockholm's Globe Arena, where his team was practicing for an preseason game against a Swedish club. "I love hockey. I want to come back playing and I'm going to work out. I'm not going to gain 40 pounds."
The 28-year-old Forsberg (pictured, left, during Cup celebration), who led Sweden to the 1994 Olympic gold medal, had surgery to remove his ruptured spleen and stop internal
bleeding early on May 10, hours after Colorado defeated the Los Angeles Kings in Game 7 of the Western Conference semifinals.
He was released from the hospital a few days later and was ruled out for the remainder of the playoffs.
Forsberg's agent, Don Baizley, made the Avalanche aware Friday night of Forsberg's decision to take time off from hockey, the team said. Forsberg then met with Colorado Avalanche owner Stanley Kroenke and team president Pierre Lacroix.
Forsberg will not return to the United States with the team after concluding its first overseas tour next week. He said he'll stay in Sweden for at least a few weeks before returning to Denver.
Forsberg (pictured, left, with Cup) scored the winning goal against Canada in a penalty shootout as Sweden won the gold medal at the 1994 Lillehammer Games. He wouldn't rule out a third Olympic start at the Feb. 8-24 Salt Lake City Games.
However, Forsberg said he would expect to return to the Avalanche first. Forsberg, one of the NHL's highest-paid players, won't be paid during his indefinite absence.
After having the spleen surgery, Forsberg did not skate again until three weeks ago in Sweden. He also had ankle surgery in the summer.
The Avalanche's 20 North American players arrived in the Swedish capital on Monday to open training camp. The team's five Europeans already were in Stockholm.
Their first scheduled game in Sweden had been scheduled for Saturday, but it was canceled after the terrorist attacks in the United States on Tuesday.
Joe Sakic, the Avs' other star center, also will miss the game Sunday against Swedish Elite League team Brynas because of a groin pull. Colorado will travel to Finland on Monday for another game against Jokerit of Helsinki before returning to Denver.
Forsberg to take time off from hockey
DENVER (September 15, 2001) - After two years of injuries, Colorado Avalanche star Peter Forsberg said Saturday he needs more time to heal and will take an indefinite leave of absence from hockey.
A teammate said Forsberg, a six-time All-Star, told the Stanley Cup champions he would miss the entire 2001-02 season.
Forsberg, whose most recent injury was a ruptured spleen four months ago, insisted he wasn't contemplating retirement, but he had no timetable for his return.
"I just feel that right now, in my current frame of mind, I can't go out and play at the level I expect out of myself," Forsberg said. "Over the last few years, the numerous injuries and the recent surgeries made me come to this decision."
The 28-year-old Swede would be the highest-paid player in the NHL this season at $11 million, according to the NHL Players Association. But he won't be paid during his absence.
The star center held a news conference Saturday in Stockholm, Sweden, where the Avalanche were opening training camp. He also spoke by conference call to other reporters.
"I think I need to sit back and listen to my body. I'm not getting younger. My body has been taking a lot of abuse, a lot of beating the last couple of years. I need to heal my body before I get back playing. I'm taking a little break from hockey for a while," Forsberg said.
"I don't want to retire. I think I will be back. How long it's going to take, I don't know."
The Avalanche was scheduled to return to Colorado next Wednesday. Forsberg, however, expects to remain behind in his homeland for at least a few weeks.
"I'm going to rest my body," he said. "I'll stay here in Sweden for a while, then get back to Denver. I have a lot of friends there. I love Denver. I love the fans and this organization. I will truly miss everything."
Ville Nieminen, who finished last season's playoffs as the Avs' rookie leader in goals and assists, said Forsberg told his teammates he will not play again the entire season.
"That's what he told us before practice (Saturday)," Nieminen said. "We were shocked. I watched Peter. He looked very good on the ice. I thought he was ready for the season.
"But it's hard to see inside the guy. Peter is a big competitor. He always wants to play 100 percent. Nothing else is good enough for him. We truly believe that he's doing the right thing."
Asked if he thought Forsberg would play for Sweden in the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City, Nieminen said, "As a Finnish guy I hope he doesn't, but as a teammate and friend I hope he's going to recover his health and be ready for Christmas or whenever he starts to feel like it's time to come back."
Forsberg, who led Sweden to the 1994 Olympic gold medal, wouldn't rule out an Olympic appearance in 2002. However, Forsberg said he would expect to return to the Avalanche first.
"If I don't go back and feel good and play with the Avalanche, I won't play in the Olympics," he said.
Avalanche general manager Pierre Lacroix said the organization was "shocked at the decision, but we have to live with it. I know his feeling went deep. He told me he did not have the desire, strength and mental toughness to compete right now."
Lacroix said the Avalanche will make no attempt to replace Forsberg via trade.
"We have a lot of depth, a lot of young players," Lacroix said. "We're not going to do anything that shows Peter we have lost hope (in him returning). We want him back when he feels better."
Forsberg's playing style has made him susceptible to injury.
In 1999-00, Forsberg missed 34 games because of five separate injuries. He missed the first 23 games while recuperating from offseason shoulder surgery, then went down with a hip pointer, concussion, bruised shoulder and separated shoulder.
Last season he missed eight games with a torn rib muscle. After missing some practice time in the playoffs with a groin injury, he ruptured his spleen and underwent surgery to remove it and stop internal bleeding May 10, missing the final two rounds of the playoffs.
He didn't skate again until three weeks ago. This summer, he has been slowed by a nagging ankle injury.
Colorado's first preseason game, scheduled for Saturday, was canceled after Tuesday's terrorist attacks in the United States.
"The thing that happened over there is a tragic thing," Forsberg said, "but it had nothing to do with my decision."
Forsberg 'not ready to skate yet'
11/08/01 - By Alan Adams, Special for USA TODAY
Amid reports that Avalanche star Peter Forsberg is getting ready for a return to action, his father says he hasn't started skating, and there's absolutely no hint he's going to start anytime soon.
Forsberg has been on sabbatical from the NHL since he shocked the Avalanche in September by announcing he needed to get away from the game. Forsberg had his spleen removed during the NHL playoffs last spring, and he cited that as one of the reasons he was taking a break.
He is staying at his home in Ornskoldsvik in northern Sweden and has been lifting weights and riding a stationary bike, says his father, Kent, a former Olympic coach.
"He is not ready to skate yet," Kent said Wednesday in a telephone interview. "When he feels ready, he'll tell me, but he has not said a word about it."
There have been reports in the last couple of weeks that Peter was training in preparation for his return to the Avalanche and playing for Sweden in the Olympic tournament in Salt Lake City in February. He has been named to the team and played in two previous Olympics, scoring the winning shootout goal in Sweden's gold-medal victory against Canada in 1994.
Kent says he thinks his son will resume his NHL career, but there is no timetable on his return.
"When he is ready, he will play the best hockey of his career," he said.
But will he play for Sweden in February? "I can't promise anything," Kent said.
Forsberg to miss rest of season with tendon injury
By Mike Brehm, USA TODAY
Just as the Colorado Avalanche were eagerly preparing for center Peter Forsberg's return, he was snatched from them again. An examination revealed that he had problems with tendons in his left foot. He had surgery Thursday, sidelining him for four months. He'll miss the Olympics and the rest of the NHL regular season. The turn of events was as shocking as the emergency spleen removal that cost Forsberg the final two rounds of the playoffs, and his decision Sept.15 to take a medical leave of absence to deal with the spleen and injuries to both feet. He had surgery on his ankles in July and September
"I was stunned," Avalanche general manager Pierre Lacroix said during a news conference Thursday night. "His conditioning was good, so he was really pumped up and really enthusiastic about it, so obviously it's a shocker."
Forsberg had flown from Sweden to Denver on Tuesday, with the anticipation that he would pass Wednesday's physicals, begin practicing with the team Thursday and resume play in a week or two. But Forsberg had mentioned to doctors about the discomfort in his foot, even though it had been diminishing. A magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) test confirmed the tendon damage.
"While we know this happened, we're not sure how it happened," said Avalanche team doctor Andy Parker.
Surgery lasted one hour Thursday.
"If it wasn't (taken care of), there was going to be some long-term difficulty," said Forsberg's agent, Don Baizley, "and it carried with it the risk that if it wasn't addressed even in the short term, it might even weaken terribly or tear completely."
Baizley said that Forsberg was "devastated" Wednesday but was already trying to put things in a positive light Thursday.
"Certainly, his motivation to play is back," Baizley said. "He was talking more in terms about the prospect of this lengthening his career instead of shortening his career. It certainly wasn't someone who was throwing up his hands and saying, 'Well, one more injury, I don't know if I can handle it.' That wasn't his mindset at all."
Forsberg is in the final year of a three-year, $30 million contract and had hoped to play for Sweden in the Olympics. His shootout goal against Canada in 1994 gave Sweden the gold and made him a national hero.
Forsberg is considered one of the best two-way centers in the league, and his absence, along with the retirement of defenseman Ray Bourque, has been felt by the defending Stanley Cup champions. Opponents have been able to concentrate on center Joe Sakic, and his production has dropped off from last season's MVP pace.
But the Avalanche will have to steel themselves because they visit the division-leading Edmonton Oilers on Saturday.
"I'm sure that this will come as much as a shock to our fans and hockey fans across the world as it was to us," said Lacroix. "Our main focus today is our support of Peter and to wish him a quick and full recovery."
The news came as the Avalanche prepared for an important game at division-leading Edmonton on Saturday.
The defending Stanley Cup champions are a point behind the Oilers in the Northwest Division, and teammates eagerly anticipated Forsberg's return.
"It's almost like Christmas, and you're going to get a great big Christmas gift," defenseman Todd Gill had said before Thursday's announcement.
Forsberg's father, Kent, said that his son's goal all along had been to come back to the Avalanche and play in the Olympics. Peter Forsberg had told the Swedish newspaper Sportbladet he was ready to return.
"I feel like I'm ready to roll," he said. "Everything is fine, so there should be no problems to start playing. I had some problems with one ankle earlier, but it feels better now. If I get an OK (from doctors), I'll work out for a week and then I'm ready to play."
Contributing: John Mossman, The Associated Press