Flyers hoping for a Forsberg return

Philadelphia Flyers GM Paul Holmgren tells Chuck Gormley of the Courier-Post Online that he would be very interest in exploring the possibility of re-signing unrestricted free agent forward Peter Forsberg.

“If Peter decided to come back and play, how can you not look at it?” Holmgren said.

The feeling appears to be mutual. Swedish newspaper Aftonbladet reported recently that Forsberg’s top destinations are the three teams that he has played for in his NHL career: the Nashville Predators, Flyers or Colorado Avalanche.

However, don’t look for the Swedish forward to sign any time soon. When Flyers GM Paul Holmgren spoke with Forsberg back in July, the former Flyers captain was still undecided about his playing future.

“He didn’t know what his (playing) status was and I left it that when he gets to that point let us know and we’ll talk,” Holmgren said.

One would think that the intrigue of bringing back Forsberg would be even greater for the Flyers after adding forwards Daniel Briere, Scott Hartnell, Joffrey Lupul and Scottie Upshall, and defensemen Kimmo Timonen and Jason Smith in the off-season. Holmgren seems to agree.

“With the additions we brought in we wouldn’t ask as much of him as we did before. If we could add a player like Forsberg, we’d have to look at it.”

One thing that may pose somewhat of a road block for Holmgren’s plans is his club’s salary cap situation. The Flyers GM admits he would have to “tinker” with club’s payroll to accommodate Forsberg’s salary, which Gormley speculates could be in the $3 million range.