PHOTO: Bildbyrån
Markus Näslund and Peter Forsberg’s friendship has gone up and down.
Today, their relationship looks different.
– I have Peter to thank for a great deal and it has been fun to follow all his successes, says Näslund to Sportbibeln.
The ice hockey stars Peter “Fop” Forsberg and Marcus Nasal nose are born in the same year. They went to high school together and won the TV puck together, with Ångermanland in 1988. They played together in Modo’s junior activities, and debuted for the club’s first team in the same year (1990).
Näslund vs Foppa
After a few seasons in the Elitserien, Näslund was the first to take the step to the NHL. A year later, Forsberg got on the train. After one season in the Quebec Nordiques, Foppa joined the Colorado Avalanche. Näslund began his NHL stay with the Pittsburgh Penguins, but was traded in 1996 to the Vancouver Canucks. During that time, the Avalanche and Canucks played in the same division.
– We had a pretty strong rivalry, Canucks and Avalanche, during those years. Because they were the best team in our division, and we were on the way up and chasing them. So there were quite tough matches, and we didn’t really have any contact during that time. Since we had leading positions in each team, it didn’t feel appropriate to have any friendship on the side then, says Näslund to Sportbibeln.
The article continues after the picture.
The duo met several times, and Näslund says that it was not easy to meet his childhood friend.
– It was difficult, of course. He is amazingly talented. I sometimes tried to get under his skin a little, because we know each other so well. I guess I succeeded at some point.
The relationship today
In the 2002/2003 season, both Swedes were also in a tight race to win the overall points league in the NHL. A fight that Forsberg emerged victorious from.
Who do you think had the best career out of you and Foppa?
– It’s a fairly simple question, says Näslund with a laugh.
– Peter had a unique career, one must say, in many ways. He has meant a lot to me in my hockey career. To have played alongside him, and also looked up to him and what he has achieved, and shown that it is possible to take the steps that he did. I have a lot to thank Peter for and it’s been fun following all his successes.
The article continues after the picture.
After time in rival NHL clubs, Näslund and Forsberg have found their way back to each other, although the latter now lives in Switzerland.
– We went to high school together, so we have a small WhatsApp group with some of the guys there, so we usually keep in touch that way. Then there are some dinners sometimes when he is in town. But it’s probably more in the summer that you sometimes bump into each other. He does not live in Sweden, so there will be short stays away from him when he is here.
READ MORE: Markus Näslund left hockey completely after the NHL years – this is what the icon’s life looks like today: “Don’t miss it”
The former hockey players are also business partners.
– We own a restaurant together here locally in Örnsköldsvik as well, called Strandkaj Kök & Bar. Along with a couple of other former hockey players, Fredrik Warg and Magnus Guestsays Markus Näslund.
READ MORE: Peter Forsberg’s almighty tribute to Nicklas Lidström gives all Swedes goosebumps: “My very strongest memory”
Share