Peter Forsberg - Biography

Last Editor: Drama828Queen				Peter Forsberg Biography -   Name : Peter Forsberg Date of birth : 20 July 1973 Place of birth : Örnsköldsvik, Västernorrlands län, Sweden Nickname : Foppa Height : 6' 2

Peter Forsberg Trivia -

Returned to the Avalanche lineup in a playoff game against the Los Angeles Kings after missing the entire regular season with foot injuries. [April 19 2002] Scored ten points in one game vs Japan at the 1993 World Junior Championships. Grandfather, Henneng Sandsquist, is a legend in Norra, Sweden for performing astounding feats of strength. Father, Kent, coached Peter with Team Sweden in 1996 World Cup, 1998 Olympics and 1998 World Championships. First NHL player to host the Stanley Cup overseas. Selected by the Philadelphia Flyers in the 1st round (6th pick overall) of the 1991 NHL Entry Draft. Stanley Cup Champion (1996; 2001) Traded to the Quebec Nordiques - now the Colorado Avalanche - by Philadelphia with Steve Duchesne, Kerry Huffman, Mike Ricci, Ron Hextall, Chris Simon, Philadelphia's 1st round choice in the 1993 (Jocelyn Thibault) and the 1994 (later traded to Toronto, later traded to Washington who selected Nolan Baumgartner) Entry Drafts and cash for Eric Lindros. [June 30, 1992] 1994 Olympic Gold Medalist - Scored game winning goal in shootout vs. Team Canada. First hockey player to appear on a Swedish postage stamp. Scored a Hat trick in Game 2 of the 96 Finals against Florida 1995 Rookie of the Year with the Quebec Nordiques All Star 96-2001 Missed the 2001 Conference and Stanley Cup Finals after having his spleen removed after Game 7 of the second round agains LA. The Avalance still won the Stanley Cup. Awarded the Art Ross Trophy for top points scorer in 2003. Was born ten days earlier than childhood best friend, fellow NHLer Markus Naslund, who is currently the captain of the Vancouver Canucks. Grew up with Markus Naslund of the Vancouver Canucks, and is still best friends with him until this day. Ex-girlfriend: Alyssa Rome 2003 Hart Trophy Winner Was nominated for the 2003 Lester B. Pearson Award, but lost out to best friend Markus Naslund. Named to the World Cup roster for Team Sweden, alongside best friend Markus Naslund.

Peter Forsberg Detailed Biography -

Peter Forsberg (AKA "Foppa", although the name "Foppa" does not have any specific translation in Swedish) (born July 20, 1973 in Örnsköldsvik, Sweden) is a center/left winger for his hometown team, MODO Hockey. Before returning to Sweden in 2004, he was one of the top players in the NHL with the Colorado Avalanche. He planned his return to his homeland even before the current NHL labor dispute turned into a full-fledged lockout. Unlike most NHL players who are playing in Europe during the lockout, his contract with MODO does not have a clause allowing him to return to the NHL once the labor dispute is settled; he apparently plans to finish his playing career in Sweden. During his North American career, Forsberg was recognized as one of the NHL's top players both offensively and defensively, and thus as one of the top stars in the league. He is especially noted for his incredible strength on his skates and how difficult it can be to knock him down. His greatest weakness is a tendency to become injured. He has not played a full NHL season since the 1995-1996 season, and he missed the entire 2001-2002 season due to a variety of injuries. From a young age, Forsberg was recognized as a top athlete. At age 15, Swedish hockey officials made a video of Forsberg, showing off his superior agility and vertical leap. He played junior hockey with MODO Hockey, debuting in 1989. After playing 23 games with the senior club in 1991, he was drafted by the Philadelphia Flyers with the 6th pick of the first round of the 1991 NHL Entry Draft. The first pick of that same draft, Eric Lindros would be permanently connected to Forsberg when, with Eric having refused to sign with the Quebec Nordiques, they traded him, on June 30, 1992. The Nordiques gave Lindros to the Flyers in exchange for Forsberg, Ron Hextall , Steve Duchesne , Kerry Huffman , Chris Simon , Mike Ricci , two first round draft picks, and cash. Many consider this trade to be the foundation of the Nordiques-turned-Colorado Avalanche's pair of Stanley Cup-winning teams. Indeed, some have suggested that Forsberg, by himself, has had a better, more valuable career than Eric Lindros, and so this trade is frequently listed as one of the all-time most lopsided deals in NHL history. Forsberg remained in Sweden, playing for MoDo for the next 2 years, where he starred. In 1994, he led the Swedes to a gold medal in the Winter Olympics, scoring the winning goal of the penalty shootout that decided the gold medal game. An image of Forsberg scoring this goal was later placed on a Swedish postage stamp, making Peter the only hockey player so far to be placed on a Swedish stamp. Forsberg first played in the NHL in the 1994-1995 season. He was an instant success, scoring 50 points in the strike-shortened season, and winning the Calder Trophy. In 1995, the Nordiques moved to Colorado and became the Avalanche. Forsberg played a large role in the team's success in their first year in Denver. He scored 116 points in the regular season, and 21 points in 22 games during the playoffs, helping the Avalanche defeat the Florida Panthers to win the Stanley Cup. Forsberg continued to star in the league, although the Avalanche failed to win the cup again in their next few tries. In 1999, he led all players in scoring in the playoffs, but the Avalanche were defeated by the Dallas Stars, who would go on to win their first Stanley Cup. Defeat came again in 2000, despite the acquisition of Ray Bourque. However, in 2001, the Avalanche would win their second Stanley Cup. This victory was somewhat bittersweet for Forsberg, though. After the Avalanche defeated the Los Angeles Kings in the second round of the playoffs, Forsberg had to have his spleen removed and would not play again in the playoffs. He decided to take the entire next season off to recuperate, and only returned for the playoffs, which he again led in scoring with 27 points, but again with his team losing before the Stanley Cup Finals, this time to the Detroit Red Wings. 2002-2003 was a banner year for Forsberg. Much healthier and more rested than he had been in the previous few years, he went on to lead the league with 106 points, and was rewarded with the Hart Trophy. Despite this regular-season glory, the Avalanche lost to the underdog Minnesota Wild in the playoffs. Peter Forsberg was one of the biggest stars in the NHL throughout much of the 1990s and into the early 2000s. He has played in five National Hockey League All-Star Games and been named to the NHL First All-Star Team three times, in addition to his two Stanley Cups, Hart Trophy, Calder Trophy, Art Ross Trophy, and Olympic Gold Medal. His two-way play made him one of the most coveted players in the league. Many have accused Forsberg of attempting to draw penalties through exaggeration or outright diving. Although Forsberg is hardly the only player accused of this, he is one of the most prominent due to his level of talent and league recognition, and he is frequently used as an example of the problem when it is discussed. These charges of diving stem from legitimate acccusations that opponents purposely target the Swedish star, forcing Forsberg to exaggerate these penalties.