Peter Forsberg To Announce Retirement, But Still Planning to Return (Satire)

After just two games into his second return to the NHL, Colorado Avalanche forward Peter Forsberg is set to announce his retirement.

The 37-year-old Swede was one of the most gifted players in the game in the mid-90's and early 2000's.  However, his hard, physical style of play resulted in numerous injuries.

Though he sat out the majority of the 2007-08 season, his return to the Avalanche late in the season wasn't exactly a coming-out-of-retirement move, as Forsberg never officially retired until now.

Forsberg has had an on-again, off-again relationship with the NHL and the teams he has played for since the 2004-05 lockout, including Philadelphia, Nashville and Colorado.

He has flirted with retirement continuously over the past six seasons, yet his attempts at a comeback have been annual news stories since he last played in 2008.

At times it was reported he felt very close to retiring officially, then a few months later, news out of Sweden had Forsberg planning a return to the NHL.

This scenario played itself out a few times before he eventually signed a one-year deal with the Avalanche last week.

"I had to at least try, to know for sure if this [playing in the NHL] was going to work or not," Forsberg told Bleacher Report.

"I feel pretty good, but, still, I can't do everything I want to do out there, the foot is still bothering me, but, not as bad as before.  But, with how the game is now, I don't see being able to contribute the way I'd want to and the way my team would want me to."

When asked whether this expectation might be delusional, in light of similar comeback flirtations while with Team Modo in Sweden and during his previous time with the Avalanche, Forsberg was reflective.

"I guess, looking back on that [previous comeback attempts], you could say that this time wasn't any different, but, even though I wasn't sure if anything had changed, I still needed to make sure I did everything I could [to try for another comeback]."

Bleacher Report then asked Forsberg if he was familiar with Albert Einstein's famous definition of insanity, "doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result."

"Yeah," Forsberg said, "I've heard of that, but, you know, I'm crazy for hockey, so I guess it fits, right?"

Forsberg's immediate plans are unclear, even to himself.

"It's [retiring] strange, for sure.  I mean, even when I haven't been playing, I've centered my life around getting back to playing.  So now, making it official, it is a little strange."

Forsberg then added that, though he is officially retiring for the first time, that doesn't mean a comeback isn't possible down the road.

"Guys have done it before [come out of retirement].  Look at Mario [Lemieux], he did it twice, right?  I guess, I can take some time and then get back to working on coming back.  Who knows, maybe next season, I'll be able to get a tryout and see how I feel.  Anything's possible."

Stay tuned to Bleacher Report for updates on Forsberg's retirement and ensuing comeback attempt.

News of the latter should start popping up over the summer.

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