Waiting For Foppa

Peter Forsberg

Honestly, I couldn't care less about Peter Forsberg.  As I've made clear in the past, I don't think the Avalanche should sign him again, nor do I think he really has any business in the NHL anymore---for the sake of his health.  Basically, his days in the burgundy and blue should be over.

But I'm pretty much the only one that thinks this way, and it's my obligation to give the people what they want, so I'll talk about Foppa anyway.  Hope you're all happy.

As Sherry at Scarlett Ice posted today, the Ottawa Senators are now officially adding themselves to the growing list of Foppa suitors.  GM Bryan Murray has already called Forsberg's agent according to the Ottawa Sun.  I don't know what it is about Peter The Great, but he definitely has charisma I'll never get close to having.  He's got grown men swooning and sitting by the phone:

"There should be a number of reasons why we'd be one of the teams he may be interested in joining. I hope he thinks we have a good team, that we got to the final and we have a chance to do it again, and I think Daniel Alfredsson is his friend. I think there are things in our favour."

Bryan Murray, you sound like a self-conscious high school cheerleader waiting for the star quarterback to ask you to the prom.  "I hope he likes me, I hope he likes me."  Good lord.  And would it be terribly hard to ask Alfredsson if he's Forsberg's friend instead of wondering?  

Anyway, like the Avs, the Senators are deep at center already.  Just Jason Spezza alone is enough center for most teams.  In fact, there's a convincing argument (at least in my head) that Spezza is the heir apparent to Forsberg's title of "best playmaker in the NHL."  Spezza is an assist machine, even if he does have it easy playing with Dany Heatley and Alfredsson on the Senators' top line.

So Ottawa joins the Flyers, the Red Wings and the Avalanche as the would-be new teams of dear Foppa, and it could be another full month or more before he decides if he's even going to play at all.  I'm sure the anticipation is killing somebody.

Like I said, I couldn't care less.

UPDATE: FauxRumors claims that Ottawa's apparent interest in Forsberg is a hoax.  No evidence is submitted, but it's worth linking to.  This article posted August 15 suggests the Senators are indeed interested in Foppa, but not THAT interested.  Just kinda interested.  Oh, and Forsberg apparently has a hernia, according to Bryan Murray.