Look out now...

[SouthernWingsFan 854]

If he has such a desire to play, then he needs to try playing a full season instead of just hopping on the bandwagon he thinks will take him to the promise land. I mean how many times has the guy retired now? The regular season is no vacation. If he wants to win another championship, he must stick it out through the regular season. That's my take, for what ever it is worth.

It's not up to NHL execs higher-ups to decide Forseberg's fate. That is up to Forsberg himself as well as any team that wants to take a chance on him.

Nobody had much beef when Yzerman played just a miniscule amount of late regular season games recovering from a major knee injury + playoff games which are more important.

McCarty came out of retirement more/less last season, barely played any regular season, played a good bit of the playoffs last season and was able to contribute to a degree given his situation/lack of time, etc. Not many people here seem to have been griping about that either.

If you aren't fit to play from day 1 or you are injured, you just can't play or you're injured, it's that simple sometimes. I highly doubt Forseberg is just kicking back on a comforter slinging 6-packs down and just deciding, "I want to play again." For better/worse, the man just can't catch any luck by not being 100% healthy for a consistent period lately. But not too long ago, when he was healthy, he was still one of the better forwards out there.

If he feels he can return to that level whenever he gets completely healthy, more power to him. It is up to whatever franchise wants to take a chance on him then.

[Hockeytown0001 7,652]

Players and teams are only hurting themselves by doing this. Theres no way Forsberg and Sundin, sitting out most of the season will be a positive addition to a team late in a season. They aren't in game shape.

I would say Sundin's situation is different than Forsberg's. Forsberg is an elite player when he's healthy, but is far too injury prone which is why he isn't playing right now. Sundin on the other hand, despite starting to get up there in age, is (as far as I know) perfectly healthy and is just twiddling his thumbs in Sweden deciding if he wants to play or not.

What Sundin is doing could be considered insulting to such players such as Forsberg who WANT to play and still could perform at a high level, but can't due to injuries. Whereas Sundin, who can still play at a high level (put up nearly 80 pts last season on one of the worst NHL teams) and doesn't have a lingering injury that hinders him, can't make up his mind on who to play for.

As Stevie Yzerman said, you should play until your body absolutely can't do it anymore. If your body still allows you to play, then do it.

Edited December 17, 2008 by Hockeytown0001

[NC WINGS FAN 5]

It's not up to NHL execs higher-ups to decide Forseberg's fate. That is up to Forsberg himself as well as any team that wants to take a chance on him.

Nobody had much beef when Yzerman played just a miniscule amount of late regular season games recovering from a major knee injury + playoff games which are more important.

McCarty came out of retirement more/less last season, barely played any regular season, played a good bit of the playoffs last season and was able to contribute to a degree given his situation/lack of time, etc. Not many people here seem to have been griping about that either.

If you aren't fit to play from day 1 or you are injured, you just can't play or you're injured, it's that simple sometimes. I highly doubt Forseberg is just kicking back on a comforter slinging 6-packs down and just deciding, "I want to play again." For better/worse, the man just can't catch any luck by not being 100% healthy for a consistent period lately. But not too long ago, when he was healthy, he was still one of the better forwards out there.

If he feels he can return to that level whenever he gets completely healthy, more power to him. It is up to whatever franchise wants to take a chance on him then.

I was not aware of his foot injury. I just remember back in 01? 02? where he took a year off and decided to come back. I remember Neidermyer doing that in Anaheim after 07 and then coming back late last year after not deciding what he wanted to do until it was too late for the Ducks to adjust for last year.

[Rivalred 630]

The man has to give up the game... God, I have had 2 ankle surgeries since the age of 19 and I have not played since.

[ComradeWasabi 109]

Who cares? Good for him if he's still managing to get around on his ridiculously damaged legs. Let him play, what's the big deal?

[SouthernWingsFan 854]

The man has to give up the game... God, I have had 2 ankle surgeries since the age of 19 and I have not played since.

I blew out my ACL playing basketball and had reconstructive surgery on it about 4 1/2 years ago. And that was just pickup basketball, nowhere close to even professional or even amateur or the collegiate level. I haven't played any contact sports since then either. However, we've (at least me) never had the bodies or the capabilities to play even close to a level towards being a professional. Everybody has to give it up at some point of course but Forsberg's a professional athlete, at least I'm not. There's a good bit of difference there.

Edited December 18, 2008 by SouthernWingsFan

[DYags 0]

Claiming Sundin and Floppa won't be effective because they won't be in game shape is a crap argument. Its not like they're sitting on the couch eatting Doritos day and night and suddenly decide they want to play again.. and it only takes a few games to get back into game shape

[Guest GordieSid&Ted]

I hope no team takes him. Let him play elsewhere rather than make a repeated jump onto a playoff team just for the glory part and not the grit.

See, I don't blame Forsberg here at all.

Blame the league for not having a rule about this and blame the teams for wanting him. I guarantee if Forsberg comes back and looks good, there'll be suitors for him.

[Spinner 6]

I think there should be a rule that if you are not active on Dec 1st, you are ineligible to play. The only way you could play for that year is if you are on IR (Chelli).

Last year we had Neidermayer and Selanne for the Ducks and now Sundin and now Forskin, I mean Forsberg.

I agree with this although I'm not sure what the date should be, maybe the halfway point of the season. Still, I think it would prevent the idea that you could sit out the season to come in healthy and strong for the playoffs while others who worked hard all year and deserve to be there get sent down to the minors.

[Guest GordieSid&Ted]

I blew out my ACL playing basketball and had reconstructive surgery on it about 4 1/2 years ago. And that was just pickup basketball, nowhere close to even professional or even amateur or the collegiate level. I haven't played any contact sports since then either. However, we've (at least me) never had the bodies or the capabilities to play even close to a level towards being a professional. Everybody has to give it up at some point of course but Forsberg's a professional athlete, at least I'm not. There's a good bit of difference there.

Those might be the truest words i've heard in a long time. I gave up hockey awhile ago as age caught up to me and I couldn't keep up anymore with kids in their late teens and early twenties. And then this past year, playing indoor soccer and beer league softball I managed to break my left hand, tear a ligament in my right ankle and suffered what amounted to a severe burn on my left knee that got infected and took almost 8 weeks to heal diving into first to tag the bag.

I'm 31 and 2008 has been the worst year for me injury wise ever. It made me think about the times they would talk about a guy like Modano, back when he was like 31 or 32 about him being in his "prime". s***, now when you hit 30, you're on the ******* back nine of your sports career whether it be pro or rec league.

Getting old blows.

[Phazon 24]

Why dosent he just play now, what a dufus

because he is injured you moron, what if you all actually read the damn article.

[IceMunkee 15]

It really isn't all that hard to understand actually. Forseberg still has a desire to play and feels he has enough gas left in the tank.

DISCLAIMER: Before people yell at me, no I am not suggesting the Wings get Forsberg.

All I am saying is I agree with YoungGuns that I admire Forsberg for not giving up and probably listening to the masses saying he needs to hang up his skates. If he wants to make an attempt to comeback and he feels he can be effective somewhere, more power to him.

I disagree. I think Forsberg wants to make an easy buck and has completely given up on the regular season. I don't see a man with drive, I see a coward afraid to make an honest living.

[Hockeytown0001 7,652]

I disagree. I think Forsberg wants to make an easy buck and has completely given up on the regular season. I don't see a man with drive, I see a coward afraid to make an honest living.

I'm not too sure he would actually have to make an honest living with the money he already has

[Rivalred 630]

I blew out my ACL playing basketball and had reconstructive surgery on it about 4 1/2 years ago. And that was just pickup basketball, nowhere close to even professional or even amateur or the collegiate level. I haven't played any contact sports since then either. However, we've (at least me) never had the bodies or the capabilities to play even close to a level towards being a professional. Everybody has to give it up at some point of course but Forsberg's a professional athlete, at least I'm not. There's a good bit of difference there.

Ankle surgery's tend to be a little more interesting. Another example is Grant Hill.