Peter Forsberg skates with Colorado Avalanche

The AP reports that Peter Forsberg skated with the Colorado Avalanche today in an optional skate. He's not scheduled to play tonight in Vancouver, but could make an appearance in the Avs' home game Saturday against the Los Angeles Kings.

I know there's a lot of skepticism about Forsberg's latest comeback attempt and for good reason. However, I suspect underestimating him is a mistake. The guy all but gave up on his return bid back in November, so it's as though he's delusional about his chances. It seems that he has found a solution after all, and if it really ends up working, watch out.

Even last season, ankle troubles notwithstanding, he put up respectable numbers:

NHL Regular season: 57 games, 55 points (13G, 42A)
NHL Playoffs: 5 games, 4 points (2G, 2A)

Again, respectable numbers, not stellar, but he’s still worth considering.

I'm no Forsberg fan, but I can respect the guy's ability and desire to return to the NHL so that he can go out on his own terms. His reputation as a diver is well earned, but so is his reputation as one of the best dominate forwards of his generation.

Also, though "Floppa" is an apt nickname for the guy, he is, paradoxically, as tough as they come. I think it's a safe bet that he'll be playing through pain and take his body to the limit to make this comeback worthwhile.

With a healthy Forsberg, the Avs become a power player in the West and can't be taken lightly. And I don't know about you, but I'd rather Detroit not face that particular Red Wings Killer in the first round. They're not far out of the lead in the Northwest Division, however, so that may not be all that likely.