Everybody knew Peter Forsberg was on borrowed time in his latest comeback with the Avalanche. Fans had been conditioned only cheap jerseys too well never to look very far into the future when it came to their brilliant but brittle hockey star. But two games — and none at home, with a chance to see him one last time — well, that was just a little too brief for the Avalanche faithful.
With tears in his eyes that no doubt were matched by those who were lucky enough to see him play in Denver for parts of 11 seasons, Forsberg bade farewell to his hockey career Monday, just two games into a comeback with the Avs at age 37.
"One thing is for sure: I won't be able to second-guess myself. I really tried — and I tried and I tried," said Forsberg, seated next to his fiancee, Nicole Nordin, at a news conference at the Pepsi Center.
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The Avs immediately announced a special night will be held for Forsberg at a future date, when his No. 21 will be retired.
For Forsberg, it was at lunch Sunday with Nordin at the Cheesecake Factory in downtown Denver when the words he didn't want to say nonetheless spilled out.
"He was very quiet, not talking, and I said to him, 'Peter, what are you thinking?' " Nordin said. "He finally said, 'I can't play anymore.' "
From there, the couple drove to the house of Avalanche general manager Greg Sherman, where Forsberg informed Sherman of his decision.
"It was not an easy decision," Forsberg said. "But I finally decided, with my fiancee, Nicole, that I would not put my health at risk anymore."
Forsberg retires as the NHL's fourth all-time leader in assists per game (0.90) and 10th in points per game (1.25). He won two Stanley Cups with the Avalanche, in 1996 and 2001, and won two Olympic gold medals for his native Sweden. He won the NHL's Hart Trophy in 2003 as MVP.
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