Forsberg to start rehabilitation program

From Rick Sadowski of the Rocky Mountain News:

It doesn't appear Peter Forsberg will be resuming his NHL career for a while, if at all.

According to a report in the Swedish newspaper Expressen, Forsberg has a muscle problem in his right foot that has been the root of his health troubles in recent seasons and he will need several months of rehabilitation for a chance to salvage his career.

Forsberg became an unrestricted free agent July 1 and would prefer to re-sign with the Avalanche if he's healthy, but the report quoted him as saying he doubts he would be ready for training camp in September.

Read the entire article here.

It sounds like this surgery may be the key to getting Forsberg close to his old self. Even so, there is no guarantee the two-time Stanley Cup champion will return to the NHL.

Avalanche could be relying more on youngsters next season

From Rick Sadowski of the Rocky Mountain News:

Because Sakic and Peter Forsberg are still debating whether to return for another season and free agent Andrew Brunette departed for Minnesota, the Avalanche has mapped out big plans for youngsters like Jones and Hensick.

Jones, 23, is a 6-foot-2, 220-pound power forward, a right wing who had two goals and four assists in 27 regular-season games with the Avalanche and one assist in 10 playoff games. A Hobey Baker Award finalist as a junior at Dartmouth in 2006-07, Jones was summoned three times from the Lake Erie Monsters in the American Hockey League, where he had 14 goals and 16 assists in 45 games.

Hensick, 22, is a 5-10, 185-pounder whose strengths are speed and the
ability to dart into openings. He can play center and on the wing.

Read the entire story here.

The Avalanche is eventually going to need to rely on its young core, and players like Hensick and Jones definitely give hope for a strong future.

Odds are that Forsberg will retire

Adrian Dater of the Denver Post:

"A knowledgeable Swedish source told me that during the Western playoff series between the Avs and Red Wings, the Avs flew in Peter Forsberg’s doctor who performed his last surgery and really grilled him hard on his troublesome right ankle’s condition, and that even after the series, there was a lot of discussion between him and the team about his future playing prospects."

"There’s no word on what Foppa is thinking right now, but the betting line continues to be that he’ll retire. But I wouldn’t say it’s a huge betting line. Probably 65-35."

Here is the full article from All Things Avs.

This does not come as much of a surprise. Granted, I am one of Forsberg's biggest fans and when he did play last season, even limping a bit, he was still arguably a top 20 NHL player. If he can get his ankle in better shape come next fall, I would not be shocked to see him return. That being said, if his ankle was so bad during the playoffs, where we all know he would have done anything to play, the odds of 65-35 are probably fitting.

NHL Morning Papers: Playoff Teams (Friday Edition)

Here are the morning papers for the second round playoff match-ups:

Eastern Conference:

Montreal (1) versus Philadelphia (6):

• The Canadiens used the magic of their past and came back to defeat the Flyers 4-3 in overtime, writes Pat Hickey. Alexei Kovalev was the Habs' first star last night as he scored two huge goals for the club. They may have won, but the Canadiens were not the better team on the ice last night, opines Red Fisher. A couple of breaks went Montreal's way last night and that was the difference.
• Phil Sheridan of the Philadelphia Inquirer has the game report. "It was our third game in 4 nights and I was really, really happy with the way we responded here tonight," said Flyers coach John Stevens after last night's 4-3 overtime loss at Montreal. The Montreal fans are not making a good impression around the NHL. In injury news, it appears doubtful that Mike Knuble (hamstring) will return for this series.

Pittsburgh (2) versus New York Rangers (5):

• Dave Molinari has in depth analysis of the all facets of the game for the Penguins/Rangers series. Heeee's back, writes Shelly Anderson about Jaromir Jagr. The Penguins are going to make sure they protect Marc-Andre Fleury from the over-aggressive Rangers. Thinking back, the Penguins probably wouldn't be here without Ty Conklin.
• Larry Brooks suggests the Rangers do not try and match a checking line with Sidney Crosby's line. Brooks also breaks down both teams and gives his prediction for the series. The Rangers will surely be fresh for tonight's game, writes John Dellapina.

Western Conference:

Detroit (1) versus Colorado (6):

• Chris Osgood shut the door when he had to last night, writes Helene St. James. If you are a Detroit fan, there was a lot to like about Game 1. Last night's game was a good one, but it did not really bring back memories of the late 90's. Meanwhile, Johan Franzen continues to impress.
• Terry Frei takes a closer look at Joel Quenville's line-up changes last night. Jose Theodore clearly wasn't sharp last night, writes Woody Paige. Peter Forsberg pulled his groin during the game-day skate and that is why he did not suit up last night.

San Jose (2) versus Dallas (5):

• Mark Purdy of the San Jose Mercury News likes the Sharks in 6. Sharks winger Ryane Clowe explains how to deal with Steve Ott. Here are the results of the Sharks/Stars games from the regular season. Meantime, the Sharks brass is hoping that Milan Michalek regains his scoring touch this series.
• Steve Ott is apparently giving Sean Avery a run for his money in the pest of the year contest. This series sure won't lack emotion, writes Mike Heika. Marty Turco is a changed goalie from the one earlier in his career, writes Tim Cowlishaw. Here is a preview of tonight's Game 1.

I am not able to post the non-playoff team morning papers today. They will return bright and early tomorrow morning.

For Illegal Curve, I'm Richard Pollock.

Email any thoughts, ideas or suggestions to illegalcurve@gmail.com

NHL Morning Papers: Playoff Teams (Monday Edition)

Here are the morning papers for the Western Conference playoff match ups:

Detroit versus Nashville:

• Tomas Holmstrom is looking a lot healthier as the games go on and his game is really coming together as a result. At practice, Pavel Datsyuk and Henrik Zetterberg practiced both together and apart. The Wings sure don't lack experience in net with Dominik Hasek between the pipes.
• The Predators know that one key moment can change a series, writes John Glennon. On the injury front, David Legwand will be a game-time decision for tonight's contest.

San Jose versus Calgary:

• Mark Purdy of the San Jose Mercury News wonders if the Sharks can recover from their collapse last night at the Saddledome. You knew what was coming if you were a Sharks fan last night, writes Purdy. "It takes men to play this sport, not a bunch of boys," said Sharks netminder Evgeni Nabokov after last night's 4-3 loss.
• When the Flames started to bully, the Sharks did not fight back, writes George Johnson. Cory Sarich's big hit was what turned the whole game around, writes Jean Lefebvre. Curtis Joseph pitched a shutout in his relief appearance last night and that was enough to hold the Flames in the game until they got the lead late in the third period. Eric Francis of the Calgary Sun thinks Sarich's hit may have turned the Flames' whole season around. (Writer's note: Here is the hit if you have not seen it.)

Minnesota versus Colorado:

• The Wild know they are fortunate to be tied 1-1 without any production from sniper Marian Gaborik, writes Michael Russo. No coach creates more line combinations than the old master Jacques Lemaire.
• Peter Forsberg missed practice on Sunday, but Avalanche fans need not worry, as the veteran was just getting some rest for tonight's tilt. Across the ice, the Wild's playmakers have yet to prove they can play at the level of the Avs playmakers, writes Mike Chambers. With the Avalanche finally back home, the Pepsi Center should be rocking tonight.

Anaheim versus Dallas:

• It has been a tough start to the playoffs for Anaheim, so the Ducks just want to focus on winning the next period of their series with the Stars, writes Dan Wood. If the Ducks have any aspirations of winning this series, the team's defense needs to be play up to its capabilities.
• Brad Richards and Loui Eriksson have found chemistry at the perfect time, writes Mike Heika. There is a different feel around this version of the Stars says Mike Modano.

For Illegal Curve, I'm Richard Pollock.

Email any thoughts, ideas or suggestions to illegalcurve@gmail.com

NHL Morning Papers: Playoff Teams (Wednesday Edition)

Here are the morning papers for the Eastern Conference playoff matchups:

Montreal versus Boston:

• There are key players on both Montreal and Boston that are getting ready for their first NHL playoff experience. Craig Julien sees the role reversal that has taken place since the Habs played the Bruins in the playoffs in 2004. The expectations are high inside the Habs room, says Chris Higgins. Dave Stubbs of the Montreal Gazette tells readers the key for the Habs will be getting Zdeno Chara off his game.
• Tim Thomas and Carey Price don't really have much in common, but the one thing they do have in common is that they both have never played an NHL playoff game. Here is some injury news on Patrice Bergeron and Marc Savard.

Pittsburgh versus Ottawa:

• Dave Molinari of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette breaks down each area of the game and gives his grade as to whether the Sens or Pens are better in that aspect. It is on the Penguins to prove they have learned from their 2007 playoff experience. The city of Pittsburgh has Cup fever.
• All the pressure is on the Penguins to meet the expectations of the hockey world, says Senators coach/GM Bryan Murray. If Ottawa wants to win, the Senators must make sure they contain both Evgeni Malkin and Sidney Crosby. On the injury front, Cory Stillman (leg) looked a lot better at practice yesterday.

Washington versus Philadelphia:

• Sergei Fedorov sounds refreshed in Washington and is very much looking forward to Friday's first game versus the Flyers. With injuries to Shaone Morrisonn and Jeff Schultz, the Caps may have to rely on their depth defensemen to carry the load until their top six defensemen are all healthy.
• Here are predictions on the series courtesy of the Philadelphia Daily News. There have been no dates set for the returns of Derian Hatcher and Jason Smith. The Flyers are going to have to beat the impressive Cristobal Huet if they want to advance to the second round.

New Jersey versus New York Rangers:

• The Devils are a faceless team and they really don't mind it, writes Rich Chere. Here is an in depth preview of the Devils/Rangers series courtesy of the Star-Ledger. It's playoff time, which means the Devils stay in a hotel, even at home.
• Rangers beat writer Larry Brooks picks the Devils to win the series in six. Chris Drury thinks Rangers rookies Brandon Dubinsky and Marc Staal are going to flourish in the playoffs. John Dellapina of the NY Daily News picks the Rangers to win in six.

Here are the morning papers for the Western Conference playoff matchups:

Detroit versus Nashville:

• Apparently not many people think the Red Wings can win the Cup. In injury news, Brad Stuart will be ready for Game 1. The Red Wings have to make sure they solve Dan Ellis in the playoffs a lot better than they did in the regular season.
• The Predators are going to need energy and some scoring from their checking lines if they are going to upset the powerful Red Wings. In positive news, David Legwand is hoping to practice with the Preds today.

San Jose versus Calgary:

• The Sharks are ready for the Flames to bring a physical edge to their series, writes David Pollak. Boy is Jeremy Roenick glad he decided not to retire. Here's how the Sharks and Flames matchup. (If you crave more Sharks information, here is a video from the guys over at 2 Man Advantage helping you get to know Patrick Rismiller.)
• Eric Francis of the Calgary Sun provides readers with a great story from Jeremy Roenick's old days with Mike Keenan in Chicago. The fact is, Mike Keenan knows how to play to the referees.

Minnesota versus Colorado:

• The Wild haven't won a playoff series in five years, and Patrick Reusse of the Star Tribune tells readers that anything less than a first round victory will be a failure. Brent Burns is ready for his return to playoff action. With Nick Schultz ailing on the sidelines, Petteri Nummelin has been sprung into important minutes on the Wild blueline.
• Terry Frei of the Denver Post wonders if this is Joe Sakic's last season? Woody Paige has an entertaining article in this morning's paper.

Anaheim versus Dallas:

• Ducks netminder J.S. Giguere is feeling at his best heading into Thursday's first playoff game. This should be one rough series, writes Eric Stephens. On the injury front, Corey Perry (quad) could be available for Games 3 and 4 in Dallas.
• Mike Heika of the Dallas Morning News likes the Ducks in 6. The Stars think their chances are better than Heika does, so long as they "lock it down." Anaheim will be ready for any adversity Dallas throws at them, writes Chuck Carlton.

The morning papers for the team's that did not make the playoffs are soon to follow...

For Illegal Curve, I'm Richard Pollock.

Email any thoughts, ideas or suggestions to illegalcurve@gmail.com.

News You Can Use Late in the Day

1. Sean Avery likes to pay for it.
2. Dan Boyle should avoid all sharp objects.
3. Spector expects many changes to the Wild's roster for next season.
4. The NHL will experiment with virtual ads during the playoffs.
5. The NHL did not break any anti-competition laws when it stymied Balsillie's attempt to purchase the Penguins.
6. Ian Mendes reflects on his prediction that the Penguins will miss the playoffs.
7. An entertaining column on the use of ice level analysts for hockey broadcasts, including a tidbit about Pierre McGuire apologizing to his bff, Sidney Crosby.
8. Larry Brooks with his thoughts on the Rangers loss to Pittsburgh, including a mention of Jaromir Jagr meeting with the Omsk GM.
9. Richard Peddie needs a Xanax. Cheer up buddy! You will still sell out for the foreseeable future.
10. All Things Avs is not especially happy with the return of Peter Forsberg.
11. The Blueshirts Blog wonders why referees get fooled by dives and embellishment.
12. Does any rookie get more press than Milan Lucic?
13. The NHL Playoffs from a European perspective.
14. Paul Kukla hopes to see some consistent officiating in the playoffs.
15. Bob Nicholson would like to see fewer fights in the CHL, which is reducing rosters from 23 to 21 in the hopes of curbing fighting.
16. Ken Campbell discusses the rankings of the NHL General Managers.
17. Adam Proteau with his thoughts on the NHL.
18. Pierre Lebrun discusses the winning ways of the Detroit Red Wings.
19. Need a laugh? Check this out.
20. The field for the Frozen Four is set.
21. The new coach of the Canadian Women's hockey team will accept no excuses for losing.
22. Scott Burnside with his Monday rant.
23. The Puck Stops Here discusses the restoration of hope in Oilerville.
24. Kyle Rogers has signed with the Toronto Maple Leafs.
25. To end the day off right, check out these quotes from the Penguins play by play guy and the Tampa mascot terrorizing people on the beach.

Forsberg an Avalanche

Here is the link to the story courtesy of TSN.

Well, Forsberg sure fooled the media. For months there was speculation of where Foppa would end up, and just as the media attention subsided, the super-Swede made his decision to return. Even if Forsberg isn't what he once was (and even then he's damn good), this is a no lose situation for the Avalanche. Think about the team's forward corps. It consists of: Sakic, Stastny, Smyth, Forsberg, Hejduk, Brunette and Svatos to name a few. That may be the deepest forward corps in the entire NHL.

For Illegal Curve, I'm Richard Pollock.

EURO CURVE

Euro Curve appears on Saturdays on Illegalcurve.com, and chronicles the latest international hockey news.

- It was reported earlier this week by many sources, including TSN, CBC and Rogers Sportsnet, that free-agent forward Peter Forsberg would not be returning to the National Hockey League this season, contrary to earlier speculation. It is believed that concerns regarding Forsberg's foot and ankle injuries can simply not be ignored and have turned interested teams off. The Philadelphia Flyers and Colorado Avalanche were rumoured to be the teams most likely to bring Foppa back to the NHL.

- The Philadelphia Flyers claimed Norwegian Center Patrick Thoresen off waivers from the Edmonton Oilers in a quiet move Friday afternoon. Thoresen fell out of favour with Oilers management after struggling in only 17 games of action this season (two goals and an assist). The 24-year-old may turn out to be a useful acquisition for the Flyers, who have been decimated by injuries as of late, particularly to star forward Simon Gagne. Thoresen has oodles of offensive talent- he scored 108 points for Baie Comeau of the QMJHL in 2002'03- but has been inconsistent in the NHL.

Eurohockey.net writes about:

-Former Pittsburgh Penguins and Los Angeles Kings forward Ziggy Palffy and how he is leading the Slovak Extraligue in scoring with 65 points in 43 games (27 goals, 38 assists). The 35-year-old right winger plays for HK 36 Skalica and scored six points in a game last weekend against rival Trencin. Palffy retired abruptly in 2005'-06 after 42 games. His best season came in 1996'97, when he posted 90 points for the New York Islanders.
-Eisbären Berlin's victory at the German Cup ( this is vaguely similar in format to the Spengler Cup hockey tournament) German national team head coach Uwe Krupp was in attendance as a scout.

Risto Pakarinen, the well-connected European hockey writer for The Hockey News, had two interesting pieces in this weeks issue:

- Kenny Jonsson, the former outstanding defenseman for the Toronto Maple Leafs and New York Islanders, will play a key role on the blueline for Team Sweden at the 2008 World Hockey Championships in Quebec City and Halifax. NHL puckheads may have forgotten about Jonsson, but Swedish fans certainly have not. Pakarinen reminds readers that Jonsson was named top defenseman at the 2006 Turin Olympics and has been playing at a high level in the Swedish Elite League.
- 43-year-old Raimo Helminen may be retiring at the conclusion of the 2007'08 season, but his legacy will live on for a very long time. Helminen is a veteran of six Winter Olympics, and over 331 international games for Finland. Pakarinen notes that Helminen also played over 100 games in the National Hockey League but his mark was made as a jack-of-all-trades utillity player for Finland, winning a world junior scoring title in 1984 and a World Championship in 1995.

For Illegal Curve, I'm Ezra Ginsburg.

News You Can Use Late in the Day

1. A slow news day at TSN leads James Duthie to discuss the baldness epidemic in the NHL.
2. Rob Blake has told the Kings that he wants to remain in Los Angeles.
3. NHL GM's are arriving in Naples, Florida to start the annual trade-a-thon.
4. Brent Seabrook signed a 3-year extension with the Blackhawks.
5. Paul Holmgren said he expects a Peter Forsberg decision by Tuesday.
6. Devon Setoguchi is searching for consistency in Worcester.
7. CC and UND each gain one spot in this week's NCAA power rankings.
8. The Forechecker looks at face-off specialists.
9. Blake Comeau is gaining confidence and ice-time on Long Island.
10. David Shoalts says Brad Richards may be on his way out of Tampa.
11. Tri-Cities.com gives a poll of the Best Of in the WHL (West Division).
12. Some sad news today as Windsor Spitfires captain Mickely Renaud collapsed and died at his home today.
13. Minnesota prep schools are feeling the pinch from players leaving for junior hockey.
14. This just in, Peter Forsberg will not return to the NHL this year as he lacks confidence in his repaired foot and ankle.
15. The Saginaw News catches up with Alex Delvecchio.
16. Mark Spector has a behind the scenes look at the Naples GM meetings.
17. Fanhouse attempts to cure what ails the Red Wings.
18. Check out this story and video of a minor league team trashing a hotel.
19. Eric McErlain discusses the idea of renting ad space on goalie jerseys in the NHL.
20. Bill Simmons pulls his finger out of Tom Brady's ass long enough to complain about the naming of the Gordie Howe Hat-Trick.
21. The Top-Ten US born fighters.
22. A preview of the new Mike Myers film, The Love Guru, which has hockey as a central theme.
23. Herb Zurkowsky examines the many faces of Steve Downie.
24. Ted Nolan missed the first period of the recent Islanders game for "personal reasons".
25. Jean Lefebvre discusses the pros and cons of NHL Hockey in Europe.

"News You Can Use: Mats Sundin free since February 14"

Peter Forsberg Not Coming Back

He has decided his ankle is not in good enough condition to return to the NHL this season.

Here is the story courtesy of TSN.

EURO CURVE

Euro Curve appears every Saturday on Illegalcurve.com, and chronicles the latest international hockey news.

- The rumour hurricane continues to swirl around the hockey world, as should be expected with the NHL's trade deadline a mere 10 days away, as European players are front-and-centre.

- Columbus Blue Jackets forward-and Czech Republic national- David Vyborny's time has likely expired in the beautiful state of Ohio as he is set to become a free agent at season's end. The 33-year-old Jihlava native has underperfomed this season for the lowly Jackets, as 3 goals and 15 assists in 50 games is hardly what head coach Ken Hitchcock expected when he pencilled him in on the team's top line. It is believed that he will attract significant attention from playoff contenders like the Detroit Red Wings, New Jersey Devils and Ottawa Senators. A return to the Czech Extraliga next season is also in the cards.

- This week on The Sports Network, NHL insiders Bob McKenzie and Pierre Maguire indicated that Swedish superstar Peter Forsberg, and his agent Don Baizley, had narrowed down his possible signing options down to two teams, the Colorado Avalanche and the Philadelphia Flyers, with both announcers selecting a return to Philadelphia as the more plausible scenario. The 34-year-old Ornskoldsvik native hasn't played a single professional league game this year but has been practicing intensely in Sweden. Although he will be rusty when he returns to the NHL, Foppa is a special player and has produced at a point-a-game or better clip over his pro hockey career. It is believed that Forsberg and Baizley still want a two-year deal but have come down on their salary expectations.

A plethora of other european players have been mentioned ad nauseum in trade rumours, including: Mats Sundin, Toronto Maple Leafs, Olli Jokinen, Florida Panthers, Marian Hossa, Atlanta Thrashers, Ladislav Nagy, Los Angeles Kings, Michael Handzus, Los Angeles Kings, Robert Lang, Chicago Blackhawks, Joni Pitkanen, Edmonton Oilers, Viktor Kozlov, Washington Capitals, Pavol Demitra, Minnesota Wild, Jaroslav Spacek, Buffalo Sabres, Jozef Vasicek, New York Islanders and Patrik Elias of the New Jersey Devils. It promises to be a compelling deadline on Tuesday, February 26.

- Former NHL goalie and ex-Washington Capitals coach Glen Hanlon, who hails from Brandon, Manitoba, will coach Jokerit in the Finnish SM-liiga next season. Hanlon was part of Team Belarus' effort at the 2006 international world hockey championships.

For Illegal Curve, I'm Ezra Ginsburg.

News You Can Use Late in the Day

1. Wicked Wrister does a great service to hockey by naming the 5 Hottest Girls in College Hockey. As a challenge to our Canadian readers, perhaps someone can compile the 5 Best in in the CIS and have a NCAA-CIS wank-a-thon. We can have the esteemed Ezzy be the final judge since I married and don't look at chicks anymore.
2. Wayne Gretzky was the favorite in a TSN poll on who to light the Olympic Torch in Vancouver.
3. The NHL will have its day before Congress on February 27th.
4. Peter Forsberg's pony died.
5. Jim Kelley of Sportsnet says that GM's are still learning on how to deal with potential UFA's.
6. Want some more trade deadline talk? Here you go. I think Elvis may have been on to something when he sang, "A little less conversation, a little more action...".
7. In case you missed it, Alan Ryder had an interesting piece (thats what she said) on the history of the NHL.
8. A look at Frank and Tom Serratore, the coaches of Air Force and Bemidji State.
9. Shawn Roarke profiles 20 NHL players that got to the big league the hard way.
10. Mike Smith of the Dallas Stars likes to rock out in his spare time.
11. The AHL update from NHL.com.
12. Taking Note gives us the story of Theoren Fleury, who tried to stir the pot a little in a Pats-Warriors alumni game.
13. A tongue in cheek blog post about the most minor hockey injuries.
14. Fanhouse calls out the NY Times for biased reporting on the NHL's southern franchises.
15. David Amber with his list of 10 Guys he would build a franchise around.
16. Damien Cox tells the next GM of the Maple Leafs what he can expect from the job.
17. Jim Kelley discusses the Zednik incident and the effect of the Lighting sale.
18. Fan Nation says that the Minnesota Wild is on the Peter Forsberg's short list.
19. Chris Chelios wants to play in 2010 Olympics. I don't blame him, Vancouver has great senior's discounts.
20. NHL enforcers say its tough to find a fight these days. They should come to my house and leave a cupboard door open and then insult Hilary Clinton. My wife would gladly oblige them.
21. Interesting story about Jean Beliveau and his wife, who taught the Canadiens star how to drive.
22. The Roseau Rams prevailed in their outdoor game last week, a game in which the temp dropped to -42 degrees.
23. Jeff Marek gives a glowing of review of Hockey Day in Canada, hosted this year by Winkler, MB. Note the story at the bottom about the Swedish goaltender.
24. Adam Proteau writes an interesting piece about the death of the "second contract" in the NHL.
25. Puck That Hit gives us a rumour from Columbus saying GM Scott Howson is willing to blow up the team to alter its identity.

EURO CURVE

Euro Curve takes a look at the latest international hockey news.

Hello ladies, gentlemen and hardcore puckheads from Flin Flon to Dubai.. It's your supreme european hockey source, Ezra Ginsburg, ready to educate and entertain the masses.

Just a few comments from the fascinating and riveting world of international hockey...

- The National Hockey League's decision to announce the scheduling of four regular season games in Europe next year- Sweden and Prague-, in addition to naming the New York Rangers as the choice for the inaugural Victoria Cup tournament was poorly organized. When the executive director of the NHLPA, Paul Kelly questions the decision the next day, you know there will be future problems. Kelly said that players may have problems committing to these events due to timing, travel and insurance concerns and said he was unhappy with the way Commissioner Gary Bettman handled the negotiations. Although everyone agrees promoting the game in Europe is a win-win endeavour, ensuring the players' union is content seems to be a no-brainer. Hopefully, these issues will be resolved by the summer as it would be in everyone's best interest. From all reports, the two regular season games held at the end of September between the Anaheim Ducks and Los Angeles Kings in London, England were entertaining and well-executed. Here's to seeing the Edmonton Oilers and Calgary Flames in Tel Aviv, Israel in 2012!

- So we found out earlier this week that super-sniper Peter Forsberg passed on joining his hometown MODO club and is interested in signing with an NHL team. This is bad news for Coach Kent Forsberg who would have preferred his son end his Hall of Fame career in Sweden but great news for whoever ends up signing him. And obviously for, Don Baizley, his Winnipeg-based agent. Yes, I know what you're thinking right now. Forsberg is injury-prone with tender ankles and shaky knees. But alas, my source in Sweden tells me Forsberg has been training in the United States with UFC 81 star and heavyweight mixed-martial artist Brock Lesnar and looks to be in his best shape since he won a gold medal at the 1994 Lillehammer Olympics. I'm obviously kidding but he has been playing some competitive hockey in Europe and should be in better shape after his off-season surgery.

It is anybody's guess where Forsberg will end up with Colorado, Philadelphia, Detroit, Vancouver and Ottawa the accepted frontrunners. Reports from the Canadian Press had Forsberg and Baizley asking for a 2 year contract worth $5 million. If you ask me, and nobody is, I think any team would be warranted in pursuing this deal, whether it's Foppas former team, Colorado, or a team like Detroit, looking to bulk up to compete with the likes of the Anaheim Ducks. Regardless, Forsberg will be the center of attention leading up to an intriguing trade dealine, coming up at the end of February.

For Illegal Curve, I'm Ezra Ginsburg.

EURO CURVE

Euro Curve chronicles the latest international hockey headlines.

- The Associated Press and Canadian Press reported today that unrestricted free agent forward Peter Forsberg may attempt a comeback next month with the Swedish national team. Back in November, Forsberg lasted only one practice in a failed attempt to play for Sweden in the Karjala Cup. "Foppa" as he is affectionately known, has been hampered by a nagging foot injury and had been previously unclear relating to his playing future. However, he recently told Swedish daily Dagens Nyheter that his training sessions have been proceeding swimmingly and that an NHL return is not out of the question.

- By knocking off Sparta Prague 5-2 this past Sunday in the gold medal game at the 2008 IIHF European Champions Cup, Russia’s Metallurg Magnitogorsk earned the right to represent Europe in the inaugural Victoria Cup, to be played next September, location to be determined. The Victoria Cup trophy will pit the ECC Winner versus an NHL team.
The three-team tournament will also include another team from a European hockey league. The tournament, announced back in May 2007 by International Ice Hockey Federation president Rene Fasel, is part of the IIHF's 100th anniversary year, which also includes the World Senior Men's Hockey Championships in Quebec City and Halifax in 2008. Details on the NHL team involved, venue and format should be released in the coming weeks. This will be the last year for the ECC as the new 12-team Champions League will replace the tournament. The best teams in the seven top European leagues will compete for over 10 million Euros in prize money, with the annual winner competing in the Victoria Cup.

For Illegal Curve, I'm Ezra Ginsburg.

EURO CURVE

Euro Curve takes a look at the latest international hockey news.

- According to several sources, including The Globe and Mail and mlive.blogspot.com, Peter Forsberg has been forced to pull out of the Karjala Cup Tournament in Finland. Forsberg's ankle appears to be bothering him yet again and a timetable for his return remains unclear.

For Illegal Curve, I'm Ezra Ginsburg.

Morning Musings

Here are the national mornings papers:

• With the whole Rick Tocchet issue coming to a close yesterday, Eric Duhatschek says that Gary Bettman has avoided a nightmare.
• Stephen Brunt of the Globe & Mail believes Rick Tocchet did the NHL a favor by pleading out and not taking his case to court.
• Kevin Allen of USA Today believes that Don Waddell may be the best choice to coach the Thrashers.

Here are the Eastern Conference morning papers:

• The Thrashers had a furious third period rally but their play in the first two periods put them in too deep of a hole and they were defeated by Ottawa 6-4. While all the talk surrounding the Thrashers concerns Marian Hossa's contract coming up on free agency, no one is talking about captain Bobby Holik also hitting free agency this summer.
• Claude Julien wants the Bruins to play to win, not to play not to lose and that strategy paid off last night in the Bruins 4-3 overtime victory over Buffalo. With Patrice Bergeron out of the lineup, the Bruins are attempting to replace their best all-around player by committee.
• Ryan Miller was outplayed by Tim Thomas and the Sabres were defeated by the Bruins in Boston 4-3.
• The NHL will be reviewing a couple of diving calls that went against the Hurricanes in their game Wednesday at Florida writes Lorenzo Perez.
• Olli Jokinen isn't sure why he plays better at home than on the road but the Panthers need him to make sure he brings his game up a notch away from home as they have the majority of their games on the road in November. In other Panthers' news, Richard Zednik is looking more like his former self writes Mike Phillips of the Miami Herald.
• The Habs had a dominating effort last night over the Flyers defeating them 5-2 writes Pat Hickey of the Montreal Gazette. After seeing the Flyers resort to violent play late in last night's contest, Hickey wonders if the team's recent violent acts are maybe a product of the way they always play.
• The Devils have been very happy with the play of rookie David Clarkson writes Rich Chere of the Newark Star-Ledger. Mark Everson of the NY Post wonders if Brent Sutter's attempts to motivate his star forward Patrik Elias may turn out to be quite risky.
• The Capitals were snakebitten in New York last night, but all the credit has to go to Henrik Lundqvist who was brilliant in shutting out the Caps 2-0.
• The Rangers have played shutdown defensive hockey pretty much all season now points out John Dellapina in this morning's NY Daily News. Larry Brooks of the NY Post thinks everyone is foolish if they try and decide who the leader of the Rangers is and leave Lundqvist out of the equation.
• The Senators completely dominated the Thrashers for the first two periods and hung on to win 6-4 on the back of Daniel Alfredsson's four point night. Bruch Garrioch of the Ottawa Sun believes whomever loses out on the Peter Forsberg sweepstakes will make an attempt to obtain Marian Hossa from the Thrashers.
• Ed Moran of the Philadelphia Inquirer has the details of a recent meeting between Flyers' GM Paul Holmgren and Peter Forsberg.
• The Penguins blew a 2-0 lead on the road last night in Colorado, falling to the Avalanche 3-2. Former Penguins' defenseman Paul Coffey has been voted into the team's Hall of Fame.
• Ruslan Fedotenko made his former squad regret letting him leave via free agency as he had one of the four tallies in the Islanders' 4-0 victory over the Lightning.
• With Bryan McCabe on the shelf, the Leafs' have made Nik Antropov one of their alternate captains. Both Kyle Wellwood and Mark Bell will accompany the Leafs on their upcoming road trip. Mike Zeisberger of the Toronto Sun is reporting that the Leafs looks like they will finally be getting the go-ahead to build their new practice rink.

The Western Conference morning papers are soon to follow...

• Last night's 3-0 loss to the Predators marks the first time the Canucks have been three games under .500 since the 2001/02 season writes Brad Zeimer of the Vancouver Sun. Not only did the Canucks lose the game but they lost both Sami Salo and Kevin Bieksa to injuries.
• Derek Boogard only served the motivate the Blues last night as they defeated the Wild 3-2 in St. Paul. Brad Boyes is continuing his terrific play for the Blues and is showing no signs of letting up. It looks like rookie defenseman Erik Johnson will be ready to return to the St. Louis lineup this weekend.
• It has not taken Sharks' rookie Devon Setoguchi long to make an impact for the Sharks up front.
• Jim Gintonio of the Arizona Republic has the details behind Rick Tocchet's eligibilty to return from league suspension.
• Predators' netminder Dan Ellis shutout the Canucks 3-0 last night and looks to be making a hard charge after Chris Mason's job.
• Jacques Lemaire said the top line of Koivu-Gaborik-Demitra was the team's best by a country mile in their 3-2 loss to the Blues; however, the rest of the team can play a lot better. According to Michael Russo of the Star Tribune, expect rookie James Sheppard to see his ice-time increase.
• Kyle Calder will be out of the Kings lineup indefinitely with a fractured thumb.
• The Oilers' brass is talking about Fernando Pisani's return in weeks and months as opposed to if he'll come back at all writes Robert Tychkowski of the Edmonton Sun. In other Oilers' news, Robert Nilsson is going to try his best to stay up with the big-club this go-around. Defenseman Matt Greene will be out of the lineup for three months but says the injury could have been a lot worse.
• The Wings swept through their Western Canadian road trip with a 3-0 record, marking the first time they have done that since the Atlanta Flames moved to Calgary. Wings' forward Johan Franzen is okay after taking a shot to the head from teammate Brett Lebda.
• In Dallas, Dave Tippett is challenging Dallas' stars to be better writes J.J. Taylor of the Dallas Morning News.
• The Blue Jackets were defeated by the Ducks in arguably the most physical hockey game played in the 2007/08 season.
• The Chicago Tribune's Chris Kuc gets the inside look at the mundane non-hockey life of rooke Patrick Kane.
• The return of Mathieu Schneider not only solidified the Ducks defense, but also gave them the shootout victory as Schneider was the lone player from either side to convert his shootout attempt.
• Jarome Iginla thinks the Flames "over-respected" the Wings last night in his team's 4-1 loss. "We tried to beat the Detroit Red Wings by playing like the Red Wings," said Flames' defenseman Robyn Regehr.

For Illegal Curve, I'm Richard Pollock.

EURO CURVE

Euro Curve takes a look at the latest international hockey headlines.

- According to the Globe and Mail, Unrestricted Free Agent Forward Peter Forsberg will join the Swedish National Team for the upcoming Karjala Cup Tournament.
The Karjala Tournament, also known as Karjala Cup, is an annual ice hockey event held in Finland. The tournament started in 1996 is part of the Euro Hockey Tour (EHT) in which Czech Republic, Finland, Russia and Sweden participate. (source:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karjala_Tournament).

- Peter Bondra officially announced his retirement from the National Hockey League today, ending weeks of speculation within the hockey world. He has been named general manager of Team Slovakia by the Slovak Ice Hockey Federation. Bondra was previously unsigned this year after scoring 5 goals and 9 assists in 37 games for the Chicago Blackhawks in 2006'07. Bondra finishes his stellar career with some pretty impressive stats: 1,081 games played, 503 goals, 389 assists, 892 points, 761 Penalty Minutes. He also had 56 points in 80 career playoff games. I think the true sign of his greatness is found in his nine 30-goal seasons, including two 50 goal years ( '95-96, '97-'98). Is Bondra a Hall of Famer? His 503 goals and nine 30-goal seasons make him a contender at the very least. He is hurt by a serious lack of hardware. The closest Bondra came to sipping from Lord Stanley's Mug was in 1997'98 when the Washington Capitals made it to the Finals, only to be swept by the iconic Detroit Red Wings.

Here are your updated Russian Super League Leaders ( courtesy of russianprospects.com)

Super League Leaders
Points
Morozov, Alexei 24 (10+14)
Sushinsky, Maxim 22 (11+11)
Alexandrov, Viktor 21 (9+12)
Atyushov, Vitaliy 21 (4+17)
Mozyakin, Sergei 21 (12+9)

Goals
Saprykin, Oleg 13
Mozyakin, Sergei 12
Dobryshkin, Yuri 11
Kulemin, Nikolai 11
Sushinsky, Maxim 11

Assists
Atyushov, Vitaliy 17
Morozov, Alexei 14
Zinovjev, Sergei 14
Zaripov, Danis 13
Alexandrov, Viktor 12

PIM
Svitov, Alexander 69
Piganovich, Oleg 67
Nikulin, Ilya 53
Vorobiev, Dmitri 48
Saprykin, Oleg 47

For Illegal Curve, I'm Ezra Ginsburg.