Peter Forsberg facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Peter Forsberg
Hockey Hall of Fame, 2014
Forsberg in 2016
Born	(1973-07-20) 20 July 1973 (age 51) Örnsköldsvik, Sweden
Height	6 ft 0 in (183 cm)
Weight	205 lb (93 kg; 14 st 9 lb)
Position	Centre
Shot	Left
Played for	Modo Hockey Quebec Nordiques Colorado Avalanche Philadelphia Flyers Nashville Predators
National team	Sweden
NHL Draft	6th overall, 1991 Philadelphia Flyers
Playing career	1989–2011

Peter Mattias Forsberg (born 20 July 1973) is a Swedish former professional ice hockey player. He was also an assistant general manager for Modo Hockey. People often called him "Peter the Great" or "Foppa". Forsberg was famous for seeing the whole ice and playing a very physical game. Many people think he is one of the best hockey players ever.

Even though injuries shortened his career, he is still one of the top players in NHL history for points and assists per game. In 2017, he was named one of the '100 Greatest NHL Players'.

His 19-year career included 13 years in the National Hockey League (NHL). He won two Stanley Cups with the Colorado Avalanche. He also won many awards, like the Hart Memorial Trophy in 2003. He is one of the top Swedish point scorers in NHL history. Forsberg was known for his amazing plus-minus rating, which shows how many goals his team scored more than they allowed when he was on the ice.

Peter Forsberg played for Sweden in many international games. He played in four Winter Olympics and five World Championships. He won four gold medals with Sweden. This includes titles at the 1992 and 1998 World Championships. He also won gold at the 1994 and 2006 Winter Olympics. Because he won the Stanley Cup twice and Olympic and World Championship gold medals, he is a member of the Triple Gold Club. He is the only Swede to win each of these three big competitions twice. In 2013, he joined the IIHF Hall of Fame. In 2014, he was elected into the Hockey Hall of Fame.

Early Life and Hockey Start

Peter Forsberg was born in Örnsköldsvik, Sweden. His father, Kent Forsberg, was a coach for Modo Hockey and the Swedish national team. Peter's father coached him for a big part of his career. They worked together for Modo from 1991 to 1994. Later, they were together on the national team when Sweden won the 1998 World Championship.

Forsberg played youth hockey with his friend Markus Näslund. They were born only ten days apart in the same town. They played on different youth teams at first. Then, they joined the regional all-star team for a national championship in 1988. They continued to play together for Modo Hockey and the Swedish national team. Forsberg looked up to Håkan Loob, a star player in Sweden and the NHL.

Playing Career Highlights

Starting with Modo Hockey (1989–1994)

Forsberg started playing for the junior team of Modo Hockey in 1990. This was the club in his hometown. He soon played his first game with the senior team in the Elitserien, Sweden's top league. In his first full season (1990–91), he scored 102 points with the junior team. He also had 17 points with the senior team.

In 1991, the Philadelphia Flyers picked Forsberg sixth overall in the 1991 NHL Entry Draft. This was a surprise because many thought he would be picked later. The Flyers traded Forsberg to the Quebec Nordiques as part of a huge deal for Eric Lindros. This trade helped the Nordiques and later the Avalanche become very successful.

Forsberg stayed in Sweden for three more years, playing for Modo. In 1993 and 1994, he won the Guldpucken (Player of the Year) and the Guldhjälmen (Most Valuable Player) awards. In 1994, Modo reached the finals, but Forsberg got the flu. His team lost the series. After the game, he was very frustrated and criticized the referee.

In the summer of 1994, Forsberg decided to play in the NHL. He had signed a contract with the Quebec Nordiques in 1993. But a lockout delayed his NHL debut until 1995.

Quebec Nordiques and Colorado Avalanche (1995–2004)

Forsberg made his NHL debut on January 21, 1995, against the Philadelphia Flyers. He got his first NHL assist that day. Six days later, he scored his first NHL goal. His first season was great. He scored 50 points in 47 games and played well on defense. He won the Calder Memorial Trophy as the best rookie in the league.

On July 1, 1995, the Nordiques team moved to Denver, Colorado. It became the Colorado Avalanche. Forsberg had scored the last goal in Nordiques history. In its first year in Denver, the Avalanche won the Stanley Cup. Forsberg scored 116 points in the regular season. He added 21 points in the playoffs. He was the second-highest scorer on the team. During the 1996 Stanley Cup Finals, Forsberg scored three goals in one period. This was his highest-scoring year. It was also the only NHL season where he played every game.

Forsberg with the Colorado Avalanche in 1997

In the 1996–97 NHL season, Forsberg played fewer games because of a bruised thigh. But he still scored 86 points. Colorado won the Presidents' Trophy that year. Forsberg was also on the cover of the NHL 98 video game.

In 2001, the Avalanche won their second Stanley Cup. After a playoff game, Forsberg had to have his spleen removed. He could not play for the rest of the playoffs. He took the next season off to get better. He came back for the playoffs and led all players in scoring with 27 points.

The 2002–03 NHL season was amazing for Forsberg. He played on a very strong line with Alex Tanguay and Milan Hejduk. He was much healthier and led the league with 106 points. For this, he won the Art Ross Trophy (for most points) and the Hart Memorial Trophy (for league MVP).

Philadelphia Flyers (2005–2007)

During the 2004–05 NHL lockout, Peter Forsberg played for Modo Hockey again. He played 33 games but had surgery for a wrist injury. After the lockout, Forsberg returned to the NHL. The Colorado Avalanche had to let him go because of new salary cap rules. He signed a contract with the Philadelphia Flyers, the team that first drafted him.

He had surgery on his ankle before the season started. He played 60 games and scored 75 points. In September 2006, Forsberg became the 15th captain in Flyers history. But he had many foot problems during this time.

Peter Forsberg with the Nashville Predators playing against the San Jose Sharks in 2007.

Nashville Predators (2007)

In February 2007, the Flyers traded Forsberg to the Nashville Predators. This was to help Nashville in their playoff run. He played 17 games for the Predators. Nashville lost in the first round of the playoffs.

Final Years and Retirement (2007–2011)

For most of the 2007–08 season, Forsberg was a free agent. He had foot surgery and was waiting to see if he could play again. In February 2008, he signed a contract to return to the Colorado Avalanche. He played only three games before a groin injury sidelined him again. He did play nine games that season and had a high points-per-game average.

Forsberg with Modo Hockey in 2009

Forsberg played two more seasons with Modo from 2008 to 2010. His friend Markus Näslund joined him in the second year. In January 2011, Forsberg started training with the Colorado Avalanche again. He wanted to make a comeback in the NHL.

On February 6, the Avalanche announced they had signed Forsberg for the rest of the 2010–11 NHL season. He played two road games for the Avalanche. On February 14, 2011, Forsberg announced his retirement from hockey. He said he could not defend himself on the ice and still had foot problems.

After Retirement

Banner for Forsberg's number 21 is raised during his number retirement ceremony with the Avalanche in 2011

After retiring, Forsberg became an assistant general manager for the Modo organization. He worked with his long-time friend Markus Näslund.

On October 8, 2011, the Colorado Avalanche retired Forsberg's jersey number 21. This means no other Avalanche player will wear that number. In 2015, Modo Hockey also retired his number.

Business Interests

Forsberg is involved in many businesses. He was an early investor in the shoe company Crocs. He also partly owns an airline called Nextjet. Forsberg and his father own a company that helped build Modo Hockey's new arena. He also likes harness racing and owns some racehorses. He has invested in a golf course too.

International Play for Sweden

Medal record
Representing Sweden
Ice hockey
Winter Olympics
Gold	1994 Lillehammer
Gold	2006 Torino
World Championships
Gold	1992 Czechoslovakia
Gold	1998 Switzerland
Silver	1993 Germany
Silver	2003 Finland
Silver	2004 Czech Republic
World Junior Championships
Silver	1992 Germany
Silver	1993 Sweden

Forsberg played for Sweden's under-18 team in 1991. He led the tournament in scoring with 17 points. He then played in two World Junior Championships. In 1992, Sweden won the silver medal. In 1993, Forsberg set a tournament record with 24 assists and 31 points in just seven games. He scored ten points in one game against Japan. Many people consider him the best player in World Junior history.

In 1994, he led Sweden to a gold medal at the Winter Olympics. He scored the winning goal in a penalty shootout. His "one hand, slide in" goal became very famous. An image of this goal was even put on a Swedish postage stamp.

The athletes from Sweden entering the stadium at the opening ceremonies of the 2010 Winter Olympics, led by flag-bearer Peter Forsberg.

Forsberg played in the 1996 World Cup of Hockey. Sweden won a bronze medal. He also played in the 1998 Winter Olympics. Sweden finished fifth. A few months later, Sweden won a gold medal at the 1998 World Championships. Forsberg had 11 points in seven games.

He played in the World Championships again in 2003 and 2004, winning silver medals both times. In 2006, he won his second Olympic gold medal at the 2006 Games in Turin, Italy. His last international appearance was at the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver. He was Sweden's flag bearer for the opening ceremonies.

Style of Play

Forsberg (centre foreground) celebrates with teammates after recording an assist

Peter Forsberg was a superstar forward. He had amazing playmaking skills and great vision. He was known for combining skill with physical play. Many thought he was the best two-way player in the world. This means he was great at both offense and defense. People said he had a "Wayne Gretzky-like" passing touch. He made the players around him better. Because he played so physically, he helped change the idea that Swedish hockey players were not tough.

Dealing with Injuries

Forsberg's tough playing style led to many serious injuries. He missed a lot of games during his career. In his 14 seasons in the NHL, he missed an entire season once. In eight other seasons, he played in less than 90% of the games.

He missed games in the 1996–97 NHL season due to a bruised thigh. Before the 1999–2000 NHL season, he had shoulder surgery. He also missed games due to a concussion and a hip injury. In 2001, he had surgery to remove his ruptured spleen. He took the 2001–02 NHL season off to heal. In 2002, he had foot surgery. Foot problems continued to bother him for the rest of his career and eventually ended it.

Personal Life

Peter Forsberg and his childhood friend Markus Näslund started an organization called Icebreakers. This group brings together professional hockey players for exhibition games. They raise money for charities.

In 2010, Forsberg got engaged to Nicole Nordin. They had their first child, a son, in 2012. They had two more children in 2014 and 2016. The family lived in Zug, Switzerland, for a while.

Career Statistics

Regular season and playoffs

International

Year	Team	Event	Result		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
1991	Sweden	EJC	4th		6	5	12	17	16
1992	Sweden	WJC			7	3	8	11	30
1992	Sweden	WC			8	4	2	6	6
1993	Sweden	WJC			7	7	24	31	8
1993	Sweden	WC			8	1	1	2	12
1994	Sweden	OG			8	1	6	7	6
1996	Sweden	WCH	SF		4	1	4	5	6
1998	Sweden	OG	5th		4	1	4	5	6
1998	Sweden	WC			7	6	5	11	0
2003	Sweden	WC			8	4	5	9	6
2004	Sweden	WC			2	0	1	1	2
2004	Sweden	WCH	QF		4	1	2	3	0
2006	Sweden	OG			6	0	6	6	0
2010	Sweden	OG	5th		4	0	1	1	2
Junior totals					20	15	44	59	54
Senior totals					63	19	38	56	46

All-Star Games

Career Achievements and Records

Awards

NHL Awards

Elitserien Awards

International Awards

Other Awards

Records

• Forsberg set an all-time tournament record at the 1993 World Junior Championships with 31 points in only seven games. He also ranks first in career points among tournament scorers with 42 points.
• With his second Olympic Gold in 2006, he became one of only a few players to be a member of the Triple Gold Club twice.
• As of 2016, Forsberg is eighth in NHL all-time points-per-game, with 1.25 points-per-game in his career.
• He is ranked fourth all-time in NHL career assists-per-game with 0.898, behind only Wayne Gretzky, Mario Lemieux and Bobby Orr.