Report: Surgery may sideline Forsberg

[Chris]

TSN.ca Staff with CP, Philadelphia Inquirer files
Originally posted by: TrojanDan46

If the Philadelphia Flyers' first-round exit from the Stanley Cup playoffs wasn't enough bad news, the team now faces the possibility of beginning next season without their top player.

The Philadelphia Inquirer reports that centre Peter Forsberg will need surgery on at least one, if not both, ankles and could miss the start of the 2006-07 season, according to trainer Jim McCrossin.

According to Flyers reporter Tim Panaccio, Forsberg will seek a second opinion from a doctor in Houston next week but he seems committed to having surgery this summer.

"If I want to keep on playing at the level I am, I have to get (surgery)," he said.
"I think I have to come back healthy...I have to take care of it and I have to do it this summer."

Forsberg reportedly has loose ligaments in his ankles that were more uncomfortable than painful. The condition affected his balance, put added stress on his legs and made it difficult to keep his right foot in his skate.

Forsberg could lead a lengthy list of Flyers that need surgery, including Derian Hatcher (knee), Michal Handzus (shoulder) and Sami Kapanen (shoulder).

Former captain Keith Primeau, Kapanen and defencemen Eric Desjardins, Joni Pitkanen, Kim Johnsson and Chris Therien all missed significant time this season because of injury.

Files from Philadelphia Inquirer reporter Tim Panaccio were used for this report.

Rough. Just what we need. Hope everything gets taken care of without any complications.

[Andy]

If this offseason goes as planned, and we pick up some speed for behind the offensive line, we should be good.

I think we have a fairly fast offense, however anything on this team could use some tweaking right now.

Excuse the mindless babble, I'm still in shock about last night.

[Jlg-28]

well as long as he and everyone else comes back at 100 % we should be ok, plus if he does need it, I'd raher do it as soon as possible then wait.

[Jlg-28]

Source : ESPN - NHL

Philadelphia Flyers center Peter Forsberg needs surgery to repair ligament problems in both of his ankles, injuries that will force him to miss the start of the season and could sideline him until January.

Peter Forsberg
Forsberg

"I wish I could go back and prove it right now that when I come back I will be a better player," Forsberg said Wednesday. "And I feel as bad as anybody that I have to get this done."

Forsberg said he would have surgery on his right ankle early next week and the left ankle will be repaired when the right one has healed. Forsberg said doctors told him each ankle should take four-to-six weeks to heal.

Forsberg already had surgery recommended by a specialist in North Carolina, and saw another specialist for a second opinion in Houston on Tuesday, who also said Forsberg needed surgery.

"It's going to be hard. It's going to be a lot of rehab," Forsberg said. "When I come back, it's going to be so much better."

A precision passer and prolific scorer, Forsberg is best known for his offensive skill. He had 19 goals and 75 points in his first season with the Flyers after leaving Colorado to sign a two-year, $11.5 million contract last summer.

Forsberg, an MVP with the Avalanche in 2003, said after the Flyers were eliminated in the first round of the playoffs that he would probably need surgery on his right ankle that could prevent him from starting next season on time.

It turned out to be much worse.

Forsberg has loose ligaments in his ankles that were more uncomfortable than painful. The condition affected his balance, put added stress on his legs and made it difficult to keep his right foot in his skate.

"The boot doesn't fit my foot, my foot doesn't stick in the skate and then I can't skate," Forsberg said. "If I get it done, straighten up the foot and repair the ligaments I think it's going to be fine."

Often considered one of the world's premier hockey players, Forsberg also had a groin injury that sidelined him for 22 games. His impact was obvious. Philadelphia was 35-16-9 with him in the lineup and 10-10-2 without him.

Flyers general manager Bob Clarke said surgery during this season was never an option, and hopes the Flyers can play well next season until Forsberg returns to the lineup.

"If he is going to have a successful rest of his career, he has to get this done," Clarke said. "He can't go this way or he is going to have this constant groin problem and back problems that this causes."

Forsberg, who led Sweden to an Olympic gold medal in Torino, promised when he returned next season that Flyers fans would really see just how great he could be.

"I am looking forward to coming back and start playing again and playing at the level I think I can play at because I don't think I was playing at my best last year," he said. "I think I had been getting worse and I am just so excited to come back."

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just great as if things couldn't get any worse. get well soon Peter

[Chris]

Terrible. We need to do some serious soul searching in the offseason, guys need to step up in his absence. Hopefully Primeau's return (fingers crossed) will help out.

[Andy]

We DO still have those 'Future considerations' from LA.