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Forsberg agrees to contract extension
June 25, 2003 - By David Smith
Denver, CO
(AZ) --
The Colorado Avalanche made
their first off-season signing Wednesday, agreeing to a
one-year deal with Hart trophy winner Peter Forsberg. The
contract is believed to be worth $11 million, which would
put Forsberg with Jaramir Jagr as the highest paid player
in the NHL.
"I'm excited to be staying in
Colorado," Forsberg said in a prepared statement. "I'm
truly enjoying myself in Denver. I'm expecting a very
exciting and successful season. Everyone should be up for
it."
Given the likelihood of a
work stoppage after next season, and because Forsberg has
previously stated his desire to play the final years of
his hockey career for MoDo of the Swedish Elite League,
speculation has surfaced that Forsberg will walk away from
the NHL after next season.
The shortness of the deal is
adding more fuel to that fire, but agent
Don Baizley
said that isn't necessarily the case.
"We'll have to see what happens, but I don't think anything's set in stone
with Peter beyond this year," Baizley told the Denver
Post.
Forsberg led the NHL in scoring last season with 106
points, and his plus-52 was tied with teammate Milan
Hejduk for the league's best. Over his career, he has
accumulated 198 goals, with 488 assists, in 541 career
regular-season games.
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