#21 Peter Forsberg
Scouting Report
The Finesse Game
There is nothing Forsberg can´t do. Since he was traded to Quebec (now Colorado) in the Eric Lindros trade, it is frequently pointed out how much better Forsberg´s game is than Lindros´s.
That´s a bit unfair, since we would have to see Lindros playing with the same calibre of players that Forsberg does before passing judgement.
Forsberg is used in all game situations: power play, penalty killing, and four-on-four. His skill level is world class.
Forsberg protects the puck as well as anybody in the league. He is so strong that he can control the puck with one arm while feeding off a checker, and still make an effective pass.
His passing is nearly as good as teammate Joe Sakic´s. In fact, Colorado now has two of the top four or five playmakers in the league in Sakic and Forsberg, which is joyous news to their wingers, but should depress the heck out of the rest of the NHL.
The young Swede seems to be thinking a play or two ahead of everyone else on the ice, which was always Wayne Gretzky´s great trait.
Forsberg is a smooth skater with explosive speed (think Teemu Selanne) and can accelerate while carrying the puck.
He has excellent vision of the ice and is an outstanding playmaker. One of the few knocks on him is that he doesn´t shoot enough.
He works best down between the circles with a wrist or backhand shot off the rush.
The Physical Game
Forsberg is better suited for the North American style than most Europeans - or many North Americans, for that matter. He is tough to knock down.
He loves the game and dishes out more than he receives. He relishes contact. Just try to knock him off the puck.
He has a wide skating base and great balance. Forsberg can be cross-checked while he´s on his backhand and still not lose the control of the puck.
Jaromir Jagr may be the only other player in the league who can do that.
Forsberg has a cockiness that many great athletes carry about them like an aura, and he dares people to try to intimidate him. His drive to succeed will help him
handle the cheap stuff and keep going. He suffered only a slight slump in the playoffs when he appeared to hit the wall a bit - because 1994-95 was shortened by a lockout,
Forsberg was unused to the long NHL season - but he finished with a powerful finals. Forsberg plays equally hard on any given inch of the ice.
The Intangibles
We predicted last season that Forsberg would be in the top 10 in the NHL in scoring. Now that looks too easy.
So we´ll put him in the top five, even with an anticipated team letdown that can be expected following the Cup win.
Forsberg is the genuine article. He can easily take his place among the league´s top three forwards.
Over the next few seasons, it will be he, Lindros and Jaromir Jagr dominating All-Star games and trophy balloting.