Peter Forsberg: Legendary Impact On and Off the Ice

‘Forsberg shoots, Forsberg scores!!!’ were words commonly heard in NHL arenas around North America from the mid 90’s to mid 2000’s and various other arenas in the world starting in the early 90’s. Those words were also often heard some 4500 kms from Forsberg’s hometown of Ornskoldsvik, Sweden and 5500 kms from his NHL home of Denver, in the small town of Adam’s Cove, Newfoundland and Labrador. It was in the kitchen while playing mini stick hockey, on a small strip of pavement playing road hockey or playing ball hockey at school, I would shout those words. As a kid (and maybe still as an adult), 95% percent of the time I would pretend to be Forsberg while playing any hockey, copying his famous shootout goal or his commonly used wraparound-top shelf move.

Of all the hockey superstars in the world, many of whom were Canadian; it was the Swede Forsberg, playing far away in Colorado who would be my hockey hero. I honestly feel for many east coast hockey fans because of the little exposure to Forsberg on this end of the continent. Between the time difference and the media focus on Toronto and Montreal, Forsberg was maybe lesser known than he deserved to be. Lucky for me at the time, the Avalanche were a powerhouse and thus got a little more national coverage. Surely when they were on my TV, I’d be staying up late to watch them and during the playoffs all their games would be televised so I didn’t have to miss one! I may have gone to school a little tired with games often not ending until 130 or 2 am but watching the Avs and Forsberg was more than worth it.

The playoffs were Peter’s bread and butter and perhaps I didn’t realize it at the time but looking back on it now it was a true privilege to watch him perform. Of course the highlight packages show his amazing skill and play making ability but they don’t do justice to the way he played in those games. Forsberg had all the skill in the world but it was his competitive nature that was so endearing. Every time he stepped on the ice he made something happen and you could feel the excitement in the building. For hockey fans of the current era, he could protect the puck and see the ice like Sidney Crosby, pass the puck like Joe Thornton and yet still be as gritty as a Jarome Iginla circa 2004 or Ryan Kesler circa 2011. However for Forsberg the grit and physicality was there shift in and shift out, year in and year out. He played the ‘Canadian way’ as good as anyone born north of the border and helped change how many people looked at Swedish hockey players. I often think back to his playoff battles with Derian Hatcher in the late 90’s; the abuse Forsberg took in that ‘dead puck era’ was just incredible but he would just keep coming back for more.

If you have the chance to watch a classic game from the late 90’s or early 00’s, it would really put Forsberg’s point production into perspective. Clutching, grabbing, hooking, interference were all ultimately fair game and goalie gear wasn’t exactly shrinking, yet Forsberg still managed six ,85 plus point seasons from 1995 to 2004 while playing the full schedule just once in that span. In the postseason, the games got tougher and Forsberg got that much better, twice leading the playoffs in scoring without even reaching the Stanley Cup Finals. He is the only person who can lay claim to that feat since the 1985-1986 season.

Perhaps the saddest part of looking back on Forsberg’s career is how great it could have been if he had been able to stay healthy. However, it wouldn’t be Peter’s style to look at it like that and it isn’t mine either. I prefer to be taken aback by what he was able to accomplish in such a short period of time: 2 Stanley Cups, 2 Olympic gold medals, 2 world Championships, a Hart trophy as NHL MVP and now at 41 years old a member of the Hockey Hall of Fame. The way he pulled out all the stops to try and get back on the ice showed just how much he loved the game and it will always be something that I’ll admire.

When looking at his statistics, resume and highlights it’s easy to see how Forsberg could be a hero for a young kid but those were just a bonus to me. It was Forsberg’s style on and off the ice that I was drawn to. It’s your heroes in life that teach you the many attributes that you wish to use to build yourself as a person. Peter Forsberg taught me to compete every single shift, battle no matter the circumstance, be a team player, never give up and always be humble. These lessons weren’t about hockey but about life itself. I thank Peter Forsberg for the impact he has had on my life and I imagine so many others. He is most deserving of this induction and will take his rightful seat in hockey’s house of legends.There will never be another Peter Forsberg. Thanks again Foppa and never forget; real men don’t need spleens.

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Going for Gold: My thoughts on Canada’s roster in Sochi

  Oh how quickly we Canadians forget! Just two days ago all of the talk was about the failings of our national program following a second straight World Junior Tournament without a medal. However, today the kids are off the hook as all eyes are on Steve Yzerman and the executive of the 2014 Canadian Olympic squad. As you may recall (I know I must have 3 or 4 regular readers!) I wrote a blog back in August giving my preseason Team Canada predictions. Now with the roster officially set, we’ll see how my roster stacks up to Mr. Yzerman’s. I’ll also make note of how my predictions compared to those of the ultimate insider Bob McKenzie; the measuring stick for all wannabe insiders. Keep in mind however; Bob has sources in most NHL cities while my main source is Adam Basha from the hockey hotbed of Western Bay, with other sources scattered in random locations such as Thunder Bay (Ont), St. Stephen (NB) and Small Point (NL). I must admit, they’re panning out pretty well though. To finish it off, I’m going to criticize two time goal medal winner Steve Yzerman for a couple of his selections.  (*Note* I will not list my projected team from August here, it can be found on my main page.) Let’s drop the puck……

  Glad to say I got off to a hot start between the pipes nailing all three goaltenders. I believe the executive got it right here and also believe that Luongo will be the “starter” for game one and will play himself into or out of the Number 1 spot from there. Price will “backup” and if Luongo falters, he’ll take the reins and run with them. Smith will be the third goaltender and will likely see one game on the bench during the preliminary round. Expert McKenzie also went 3 for 3 in goal, preventing me from getting a much needed leg up.

  On Defense things got a little rocky for me as I went 5 for 8. Ultimately, 4 of the 5 picks were locks with Subban being the other. No doubt the Canadian blue line is strong; however I would have taken Brent Seabrook and Dan Boyle over Dan Hamhuis and Jay Bouwmeester. I can see the upside to Hamhuis’ game but I’m not sure if he is among the top 8 in this country, nor do I think he can bring more to the table than Seabrook and Boyle on or off the ice. Bouwmeester was basically considered a lock on everyone’s team going into today; but for me he’s not a guy who can turn the tempo up when it needs to be turned up. No doubt he skates well and moves the puck well but he lacks that “drive” as was proven by a fairly poor tourney back in 2006. The argument can be made for the importance of left defense vs. right defense but top players are top players and I think such an argument may be exaggerated. Otherwise,  difficult to argue the remaining picks as Vlasic has been stellar for San Jose and Subban will be a Canadian Hero on the power play (yes, even you will cheer leaf fans!). The defense looks good but those are tweaks I would have made. By the way, for those of you keeping score, Bobby Mac went 8 for 8 on the backend and thus I fired Adam Basha!

  Similarly, I struggled up front hitting just 8 of my 13 predicted forwards. With that being said, the only forwards that made the team that I would argue shouldn’t be going to Sochi are Chris Kunitz, Jeff Carter and Patrick Marleau. I am not a big believer in taking Chris Kunitz simply because he works well with Sidney Crosby nor am I a believer that Kunitz would be on this team if he was playing on a different NHL team. There were better players out there who can make other players better rather than simply be better due to the presence of someone else. Claude Giroux sticks out to me because he has all the tools of a superstar and has been a top producer among Canadians over the past few years. Putting him on the big ice with better players would have been something to see. I didn’t hear much discussion on it today but he may be a paying the price for choosing to skip out on the summer camp. Another concern with Kunitz is if he gets taken off a line with Crosby, where does he fit then? He likely slides into the last forward spot and has a minimal impact in the tournament, thus wasting a roster spot. Honestly, I’ve never really been a fan of Patrick Marleau and cannot see how he brings more upside than his Sharks teammate Logan Couture. Couture in my opinion has a better all around game and easily has more of an edge. Perhaps with Marleau returning from the 2010 team one can argue he brings experience and leadership but to me he doesn’t come off as the kind of guy who is a great leader (Stripped of the C in San Jose).  The last player selection that I really question is Jeff Carter. I like Jeff Carter as a player and no doubt the executive are thinking of his speed and ability to finish, paying off on the big ice. My Concern is where do you play him? If he doesn’t fit into the top 6 (which will be tough); how does he do in a third or fourth line role? That’s where I would prefer guys like Mike Richards and Eric Staal. Both of whom have the ability to be clutch but also have that versatility where you can slide them up or down a line-up and still have them be key contributors to the team. I thought those guys were really good for Canada back in 2010 and they could still play on this team in 2014. The forward group is good, but may consist of too many players who want to be top 6 forwards and unable to be bottom 6 forwards. Again, for the scorekeepers; Bob went 11 for 14 up front and ultimately won the team prediction battle with ease.

  When all is said and done, I do agree with the vast majority of the players selected to represent our country in Sochi. Above you can see some of the changes I would have made but my three major concerns are the third/fourth lines, ability to play OUR game, and leadership. I question which of the 14 forwards selected will excel in a third or fourth line role? If you look at those 14 forwards, with the exceptions of Bergeron, Sharp and Toews (who really shouldn’t be), I don’t see anyone who can drop back to the bottom 6 and be the checking, defensive, versatile, role playing forward needed. This is where I really thought Staal and Richards would have been of value. Likewise, I’m not sure if this team has the identity of a truly Canadian group. As you look down the roster there are not many names that standout as the “in your face,” intense, swagger filled players who have the ability to intimidate European players. The team is filled with speed and skill which is important on the big ice but somewhat lacks players who play the “Canadian” way. Outside of Subban, Weber, Doughty and Perry, I don’t see guys who will crash, bang and really get under the skin of the opposition. It’s almost like this team was picked to suit the European style of game on the big ice but I believe we are at our best when we force opponents to play our game. Last but not least, there has to be some concern in terms of veteran leadership. Our oldest skaters are Kunitz and Marleau; one who is playing in his first Olympics and the other who has had his leadership questioned in the past. Returnees such as Crosby, Toews, Getzlaf and Weber will be leaned upon to be the leaders of this team but I really feel like a Dan Boyle could have been a great calming influence similar to Neidermayer in 2010.

  In closing, I’m not sure there is anyone in this country who agrees with every player picked to this team, even those who picked the team. No matter what there will be debate and everyone cannot be satisfied. We will head into the Olympics with a very good looking team and we are a top contender to win gold. Will we win? That’s a question for another day but no matter whom we have wearing our jersey in February, we’ll all be chanting “Go Canada Go!”

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Touch Pass: A few hot topics in the NHL

Been a little while between blogs, here are my thoughts on some of the hot topics of the NHL:

The NHL and Rogers join forces

  Last week the NHL and Rogers came to terms on a new 12 year television deal which will begin next season. I’ve heard many fans with questions and concerns regarding the deal over the past few days. To keep it short and sweet; if anything, it sounds like hockey fans will have more games to watch and more choice! How often over the years have Montreal fans complained about the Leafs game being the main game on HNIC? Well, according to an example given at the announcement last week, A Saturday night under this deal will involve a Leafs game on CBC, Canadiens game on Sportsnet and Senators game on CITY! Make sure you have batteries in that clicker!! There will also be NO MORE blackouts under this deal! What does this mean? If you have any of the Sportsnet regional channels, you’ll actually be able to watch the game even if you are from outside that particular region!

  We all love our Hockey Night in Canada and it will continue for at least 4 years under this deal. During this time, the Stanley Cup playoffs and Stanley Cup finals will be shown on CBC just as they have been for years. What does this mean for Grapes? I think Don Cherry will continue to entertain until he chooses to be done with it. He made it clear on Saturday night that if Rogers doesn’t mess with him, he’ll keep doing what he’s doing. This deal will probably result in Don getting even more TV time on some of Rogers’ other channels. I also think Ron Mclean sticks with Don until he’s ready to retire and then Ron should get some enticing offers, one of which will come from Rogers. It is highly likely that there would be even more change to HNIC if a different network won the deal. Rumor has it that CTV would have pushed to have Saturday game start times moved to 6 eastern so the late game could be shown on TSN in primetime. In other words, the damage could have been worse.

  All the concern that has poured in for the hockey personalities on TSN makes me proud to be Canadian. Only Canadians would develop such a connection with these TV personalities that would leave us worrying about their job security. I imagine McKenzie, Duthie and Miller will stick with TSN for the time being unless they get an offer they can’t refuse. All three have been with the network for years and a place should be there for them if they want to stay; however, everyone has a price. What about Darren Dreger? Some may remember that he was originally Sportsnet’s number 1 insider before he jumped ship to join TSN. Would he like to go back? Will Rogers be interested in taking him back? That should be an interesting development. Perhaps next summer we’ll see a Free Agent frenzy “analyst” edition. The people that we should really feel for here are those who we don’t see on our TV screen. It takes a large production crew to put off a live event and sadly it will be many of these folks who are without work.

  Many people are also disappointed about the fact the TSN panel won’t be delivering the games anymore. I too, greatly enjoy the guys on TSN but to be fair, the Hockey Central guys are also very good! Daren Millard, Nick Kypreos and Doug Maclean have incredible chemistry as a trio and provide a very entertaining program. I imagine they will only step up their game with an increased national spotlight, giving fans something to enjoy. If you’re looking for a preview of what’s to come from the Sportsnet panel, check out Hockey Central at noon (130 NL time) on Sportsnet, Monday to Friday.

A four team race

  One of four teams will win the Cup this year. It’ll be one of San Jose, St.Louis, Los Angeles or Chicago. St. Louis and San Jose are the front runners because by May, both the Kings and Blackhawks will have played a lot of hockey over the last year and a half which will have them worn down. You can also expect to see a lot of Kings and Blackhawks playing in Sochi which again, will add to the wear and tear on the body. I won’t guarantee it’ll be the Sharks or Blues but will Mark Messier Guarantee it’ll be one of those 4 taking home Lord Stanley.

I’m OK with PK

  PK Subban has to be on Team Canada in Sochi! This country is very deep at every position but not to the point that we are able to leave the reigning Norris trophy winner home. The guy is far too dynamic and explosive not to take, especially on the big ice of the Olympics. He faces a great deal of criticism because of where he plays and the microscope he plays under. Yes, his game has flaws, as do the games of any other guys being considered for the spot. If Subban was playing in Columbus, he’d be a no brainer for the team. Anyone who might be concerned about his play in his own end should have faith that Mike Babcock and the coaching staff will know how and when to use him. You must take the best players and Subban is one of the best at his position.

What’s wrong with the Leafs?

  I’ve only had the chance to catch bits and pieces of Toronto’s recent games but there seems to be a common trend. Either the players are not sticking to the game plan or Carlyle needs to change the game plan. A 6-0 loss to Columbus, the collapse in Pittsburgh, a loss to the lowly Sabres and then falling behind 4-0 in a rivalry game to the habs are all cause for concern. Hockey is a game of action and reaction; right now the Leafs are slow on the action and even slower on the reaction. Getting badly outshot game after game has finally caught up to them and they need to change something. Makes me wonder if Carlyle’s message is getting lost in translation? Or is Dave Bolland that valuable?

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