Forsberg Announces Retirement
Two-Time Stanley Cup Champion Retires As A Member Of The Avalanche
Monday, 02.14.2011 / 5:37 PM
/ News
Colorado Avalanche
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Colorado Avalanche forward Peter Forsberg announced today that he is retiring from the game of hockey.
“The time has finally come, I am retiring from the game of ice hockey,” said Forsberg. “I’ve played hockey all my life but I’ve come to the decision that I’ve played my final game. It is perfect for me to announce my retirement here in Denver, as a member of the Colorado Avalanche.”
Forsberg, 37, retires as a member of the Avalanche, the team he helped win two Stanley Cup championships during his 12 seasons with the franchise. Forsberg played his final two games with Colorado this past weekend at Columbus and Nashville.
The Avalanche organization will retire Forsberg’s #21 jersey during a special ceremony next season. Details of that event will be announced in the coming months.
“We were proud to offer him the opportunity to come back and play for the Avalanche and certainly respect his decision,” said Avalanche General Manager/Executive Vice President Greg Sherman. “We wish him all the best.”
Forsberg captured the 2003 Hart Trophy as the NHL’s MVP after leading the league with 106 points (29g/77a) in 75 games that year. The Ornskoldsvik, Sweden native also earned the Art Ross Trophy in 2003, won the Calder Trophy as the NHL’s rookie of the year in 1994-95, was named to the NHL’s First All-Star Team on three occasions (1997-98, 1998-99 and 2002-03) and was selected to seven NHL All-Star Games.
Overall, Forsberg tallied 885 points (249g/636a) in 708 regular season games with Quebec/Colorado, Philadelphia and Nashville. He ranks 10th all-time in points-per-game (1.25) and fourth in assists-per-game (.898). Only Wayne Gretzky (1.320), Mario Lemieux (1.129) and Bobby Orr (.982) averaged more assists per game during their NHL careers. He also averaged better than a point-per-game in the playoffs, tallying 171 points (64g/107a) in 151 postseason games.
Selected sixth overall by Philadelphia in the 1991 Entry Draft, Forsberg was dealt to the Quebec Nordiques on June 30, 1992. He currently stands fourth on the franchise’s all-time scoring list with 755 points (217g/538a) in 591 career games. Forsberg ranks second in franchise history in playoff scoring with 159 points (58g/101a) in 140 career postseason contests.
Forsberg helped his native Sweden capture two Olympic gold medals, 1994 and 2006. All-in-all, he represented his country at four Olympics, five World Championships, two World Cups of Hockey and two World Junior Championships.
He retires as the fourth-highest scoring Swedish-born player in NHL history. Only Mats Sundin (1349), Nicklas Lidstrom (1090) and Daniel Alfredsson (1023) had more points.
“The time has finally come, I am retiring from the game of ice hockey,” said Forsberg. “I’ve played hockey all my life but I’ve come to the decision that I’ve played my final game. It is perfect for me to announce my retirement here in Denver, as a member of the Colorado Avalanche.”
Forsberg, 37, retires as a member of the Avalanche, the team he helped win two Stanley Cup championships during his 12 seasons with the franchise. Forsberg played his final two games with Colorado this past weekend at Columbus and Nashville.
The Avalanche organization will retire Forsberg’s #21 jersey during a special ceremony next season. Details of that event will be announced in the coming months.
“We were proud to offer him the opportunity to come back and play for the Avalanche and certainly respect his decision,” said Avalanche General Manager/Executive Vice President Greg Sherman. “We wish him all the best.”
Forsberg captured the 2003 Hart Trophy as the NHL’s MVP after leading the league with 106 points (29g/77a) in 75 games that year. The Ornskoldsvik, Sweden native also earned the Art Ross Trophy in 2003, won the Calder Trophy as the NHL’s rookie of the year in 1994-95, was named to the NHL’s First All-Star Team on three occasions (1997-98, 1998-99 and 2002-03) and was selected to seven NHL All-Star Games.
Overall, Forsberg tallied 885 points (249g/636a) in 708 regular season games with Quebec/Colorado, Philadelphia and Nashville. He ranks 10th all-time in points-per-game (1.25) and fourth in assists-per-game (.898). Only Wayne Gretzky (1.320), Mario Lemieux (1.129) and Bobby Orr (.982) averaged more assists per game during their NHL careers. He also averaged better than a point-per-game in the playoffs, tallying 171 points (64g/107a) in 151 postseason games.
Selected sixth overall by Philadelphia in the 1991 Entry Draft, Forsberg was dealt to the Quebec Nordiques on June 30, 1992. He currently stands fourth on the franchise’s all-time scoring list with 755 points (217g/538a) in 591 career games. Forsberg ranks second in franchise history in playoff scoring with 159 points (58g/101a) in 140 career postseason contests.
Forsberg helped his native Sweden capture two Olympic gold medals, 1994 and 2006. All-in-all, he represented his country at four Olympics, five World Championships, two World Cups of Hockey and two World Junior Championships.
He retires as the fourth-highest scoring Swedish-born player in NHL history. Only Mats Sundin (1349), Nicklas Lidstrom (1090) and Daniel Alfredsson (1023) had more points.
