The Colorado Avalanche will pay homage to Peter Forsberg, one of the franchise’s greatest players, by retiring his number to the rafters prior to their season opener on Oct. 8 against the Detroit Red Wings.
Forsberg was one of the best two-way forwards in the NHL during his prime in the 1990’s and helped the Avalanche secure two Stanley Cup titles in 1996 and 2001. He currently ranks tenth all-time in career points per game and fourth all-time in career assists per game. Forsberg finished his NHL career with 249 goals and 636 assists in 708 career games spent with the Avalanche, Philadelphia Flyers and Nashville Predators.
Forsberg tried to complete an NHL comeback last season with the Avalanche after several seasons overseas but opted out of the comeback after only two games thanks to nagging foot injuries.
It’s fitting that Forsberg’s number will be retired in a game against the Red Wings, a team who Forsberg battled against throughout most of the late 90’s and early 2000’s. Both the Avalanche and Red Wings were two of the most dominant teams in the NHL during that time with the two teams combining for five of the 10 Stanley Cup titles won between 1995 and 2004.
Forsberg’s number will hang in the rafters alongside goaltender Patrick Roy, Avalanche all-time leading scorer Joe Sakic and defenseman Ray Bourque.
