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| Posted By | Discussion Topic: Forsberg takes Leave of Absence - Heart not in it | ||||
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| Spork | posted on 09-15-2001 @ 5:20 PM |    | |||
| Psychopath Registered: Jun. 01  | This gives the Redwings a bit of a leg up in the West, I would say... STOCKHOLM -- Six-time NHL all-star Peter Forsberg is taking a leave of absence from hockey after missing the Colorado Avalanche's run to the Stanley Cup title because of a ruptured spleen. "I'm not retiring," he said at a news conference Saturday at Stockholm's Globe Arena, where the Avalanche was practising for an exhibition 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, who led Sweden to a gold medal over Canada in the 1994 Olympics, 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 semifinal. He was released from the hospital a few days later and was ruled out for the remainder of the playoffs. "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. "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 few years. I need to heal my body. "I don't know how long it's going to take." 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. "We are shocked with his decision, but we have to respect it," Lacroix said. "Peter told me that he did not have the desire, strength and mental toughness to compete right now and wanted to step aside." Ville Nieminen, who finished last season's playoffs as the Avs' rookie leader in goals, assists and points, said Forsberg told his teammates that he will not play again during the entire season. "That's what he told us before practice (today)," said Nieminen, a Finn. "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 ... That's the way life is. Peter is a big competitor. He always wants to play 100 per cent. He wants to be 100 per cent on the ice. Nothing else is good enough for him. We truly believe that he's doing the right thing." Asked if Nieminen thought Forsberg would play for Sweden in the Feb. 8-24 Winter Olympics at 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 will not return to the U.S. 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. "I love Denver," he said. "I love the fans and this organization. I will truly miss everything. I hope people are not mad at me." Forsberg scored the winning goal for Sweden against Canada in a shootout at the 1994 Olympics in Lillehammer, Norway. He wouldn't rule out a third Olympic start at Salt Lake City, but 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. Forsberg, who would have been the NHL's highest-paid player this season at $11 million US, won't be paid during his indefinite absence. "It was not my intention to be paid," he said. "I understand the situation. It's not like I broke a leg and will be paid. It's not a money issue or a contract issue." After having the spleen surgery, Forsberg did not skate again until three weeks ago in Sweden. He also had ankle surgery in the summer. "I feel like I should be able to come back and play," he said. "But it's hard to say. I want to get back playing. It's not that I want to go somewhere else to play. I love the Avalanche. We have a great team. "But I need to listen to my body for a second. Instead of going into the season and just get hurt and sit out and everything like that, I think it's better to do this andget healthy. And if I get back I want to get back 100 per cent and be ready mentally and physically to go back and play." 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 cancelled after Tuesday's terrorist attacks in the U.S. Joe Sakic, the Avs' other star centre, will miss Sunday's game 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.  Thank you to all the brave volunteers who brought us all together as a country, and thank you to those of you brave soldiers who will fight and have fought for our country. We are a free people because of your efforts. | ||||
| JJ G.O.O.F.B.A.H.G.S. Soldier of Fortune Spec Ops Division | posted on 09-15-2001 @ 5:33 PM | | |||
| O&A Board Regular Registered: Feb. 01 | Hey somtimes u gotta go with what u feel and do what u think is the right thing. If he thinks hes not ready to play then hes not ready to play. plain and simple.
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