Photo: Bildbyrån
In February 2011, Peter Forsberg was forced to realize that he would not be able to play any more due to his recurring foot injury.
When he put the skates on the shelf, he also made another decision: Stop watching hockey.
– I was a little less and wanted to get away a little, he says to Hockey Sweden.
He is one of Sweden’s best hockey players of all time, with two Olympic gold medals, two World Cup gold medals, two Stanley Cup trophies and numerous individual awards on his track record. Peter “Foppa” Forsberg51, is certainly one of the sport’s big names – but after he was forced to retire in early 2011, he took a break from hockey.
Make a comeback in the TV box
Forsberg suffered a foot problem in the final phase of his career and he was injured for more or less five years. After years in the NHL with the Colorado Avalanche, Philadelphia Flyers and Nashville Predators, he made the decision to move home to Modo. There it sometimes went a little better and the foot held for periods. But then he made one last attempt in Colorado again… which didn’t go any further.
After his playing career, “Foppa” has been seen as a hockey expert on television in various contexts. However, there have not been any long-term gigs. Now, however, he is eligible for yet another return, this time as an expert in Viaplay’s NHL broadcasts.
– Yes, but it was like that in hockey as well, that I was doing a lot of comebacks. Now I don’t know if this can be called a comeback, but I think hockey is fun and I want to promote it as much as I can. That is the basis for why I am doing this, he tells Hockey Sweden.
READ MORE: Peter Forsberg had another favorite team in the SHL as a child – reveals why he ditched Modo for the rival
Took a break from hockey
However, the joy of hockey has not always been there, as it is now. There was a time when Peter Forsberg preferred not to watch any hockey at all. It was in conjunction with him ending his career due to his troublesome foot injury. Then it became too painful to be constantly reminded of what could have been. He then decided to take a little break.
Fortunately, that breakup didn’t last forever. Now that he has passed 50 and the three children have started to grow, there is more time to sit and watch the sport that he loves.
– The first year I was a little less and wanted to get away a little. Precisely because of this with the foot, the problems with it, I had not run but watched more football. In recent years, there has actually been a lot of hockey. Previously, I might not have thought of watching, for example, Rögle against Leksand on a Tuesday evening. So a match where Modo was not involved. I can actually do that now and think hockey has become fun again and follow many players, he says.
“Still want to know what I’m talking about”
He has previously been an expert during both the Olympic and World Cup broadcasts, but now there will be a longer season, more matches and simply more to keep an eye on. It will be a little harder for him to keep up with everything.
– The difficulties, if we’re going to talk about the NHL, is that I don’t have time to see all the games and which chain combinations the teams have. I still want to watch Modo and also a match in the Hockeyallsvenskan from time to time. If I’m also going to watch everything in the NHL, there would be ten games every night and of course that won’t work, but of course I’ll see highlights. If I’m going to be on TV, I still want to know what I’m talking about, he says.
READ MORE: Peter Forsberg now admits what he thinks of Niklas Wikegård
Peter Forsberg will also be in Viaplay’s new hockey venture “Goodmorning NHL!” which is broadcast for one hour every Monday and Friday morning. The episodes will also be released as a podcast. There you can see and hear, in addition to “Foppa”, interesting people such as Niklas Jihde, Jacob Josephson, Jonathan Lindquist, Niklas Wikegård and Erik Granqvist.
Peter Forsberg is truly one of the greatest hockey players ever, not only in Sweden but in the world. So lovely to hear his thoughts and opinions about the NHL, the world’s best hockey league.
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