
Peter Forsberg: The Brett Favre Of The NHL?
Injuries plagued the last years of Peter Forsberg's NHL career. It was this that prompted him to announce he thought he was done playing hockey last summer.
Then, last month, Forsberg decided he would try to make a return to the Colorado Avalanche. He began skating and practicing with the team again.
This past Friday, Forsberg made his return to the Avalanche's starting line-up.
Today, he announced his retirement.
Does this sound similar to a certain NFL player named Brett Favre? Let's take a look at all the ways the two are similar.
Peter Forsberg: Before He Entered the NHL
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Before Peter Forsberg was drafted into the NHL, he played five years in Sweden.
He started with a junior team, before moving on to the highest Swedish professional leagues.
He was drafted by the Philadelphia Flyers in the 1991 NHL Draft, but deferred to continue playing in the Swedish leagues for three more years.
Brett Favre: Before He Entered the NFL
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Brett Favre took the traditional route to professional football. He played high school football and then college football at Southern Mississippi.
He was selected by the Atlanta Falcons in the 1991 NFL Draft, the same year that Forsberg was originally drafted.
Peter Forsberg and The Colorado Avalanche
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Peter Forsberg signed with the Quebec Nordiques of the NHL, beginning in 1994. Due to the lockout for the first half of the season, Forsberg wouldn't make his NHL debut until January 1995.
Then over that summer, the Nordiques were sold and moved to Denver, Colorado, where they became the Colorado Avalanche.
Their first year in Colorado, they won the Stanley Cup.
Forsberg would continue in Colorado until the 2004 lockout. Once that lockout ended, the introduction of the salary cap made it impossible for Colorado to keep Forsberg.
After almost ten years in the organization, Forsberg moved to the Philadelphia Flyers, his orginal draft team.
Brett Favre and The Green Bay Packers
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Brett Favre was drafted by the Atlanta Falcons, but he only made four passes as a backup, and none of them were completed.
In Green Bay however, Favre found his groove. He helped the Packers to win the Super Bowl XXI in 1997.
Favre would remain a Green Bay Packer until 2007.
Peter Forsberg: Post Colorado Avalanche and Then Return To Colorado
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After severing ties with the Colorado Avalanche, Peter Forsberg went on to play for the Philadelphia Flyers and the Nashville Predators before returning to the Colorado Avalanche in 2008.
Unfortunately, those years were plagued by injury. While Forsberg returned to Colorado in 2008, it was cut short by another injury.
He returned to Sweden to recover and then test his play in the Swedish leagues.
Brett Favre: Post Green Bay Packers
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The same year that Peter Forsberg was making his return to Colorado, Brett Favre was announcing his retirement for the first time.
He of course when on to un-retire and play for the New York Jets. Favre was thought to be done after that season, but he wasn't.
He went on to play for the Minnesota Vikings in 2009. Speculation about impending retirement occurred again, but Favre returned to the Vikings for the 2010 season as well.
Peter Forsberg: Official Retirement
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While everyone assumed that Peter Forsberg was officially done after he speculated last summer, he never said he was officially retiring.
He announced in January that he would be resuming practice with the Avalanche to make a return this season.
He made his return this past Friday night. After playing two games this weekend, both of which the Avs lost, Forsberg had zero points.
It was then announced that today he would officially retire from hockey at the age of 37.
Brett Favre: Final Retirement
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Last month while Peter Forsberg was planning his return to professional sports, Brett Favre was planning his exit.
On January 17, Favre announced his retirement. We can only assume that this one will stick, after the let-down seasons that Favre has had in Minnesota.
Peter Forsberg and Brett Favre
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To sum up, Peter Forsberg and Brett Favre have a lot in common.
However, Peter Forsberg's indecisiveness regarding retirement is understandable considering the injuries he has fought over the past few years.
Favre, he's just indecisive.
Although, if Peter Forsberg ends up making another comeback to the NHL, then it will be perfectly justifiable to refer to him as the Brett Favre of the NHL.








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