Back in 1993, a youngster from Olrnskoldsvik suited up for Team Sweden at the World Junior Championships. While he was doing everything he could to help Sweden win on the ice, a heck of a lot already happened to him off it.

In just two short years, the Swedish centerman became a first-round pick in the NHL draft. His rights had been shipped off in what had the potential to be the biggest trade in NHL history. And he was tabbed as the best hockey player outside of the NHL.

This, mind you, all came about by the tender age of 19.

So what did the kid do? He helped Sweden win the silver medal at the WJC, then went out the next year and scored the biggest goal in Swedish hockey history. His amazing penalty-shot goal against Team Canada brought Team Sweden the gold and was forever memorialized on a Swedish postage stamp. "Magic Boy," otherwise known as Peter Forsberg, became a living Swedish legend.

The Draft Players selected before Peter Forsberg in the 1991 NHL Entry Draft: 1. Eric Lindros, Que. 2. Pat Falloon, S.J. 3. Scott Niedermayer, N.J. 4. Scott Lachance, NYI 5. Aaron Ward, Wpg.

Forsberg then joined the NHL, took home the Calder Trophy in his rookie year and won two Stanley Cups. All before the age of 28. In September 1998, LCS Hockey named Forsberg the top center in hockey. It was quite an honor, perhaps the pinnacle of his young career. After all, he was proclaimed the top pivot after being in the NHL for just four seasons.

But Forsberg wasn't satisfied with being tabbed the most complete player in the NHL. He wanted more. So Forsberg pulled off the biggest comeback this side of Mario Lemieux. He skipped the entire 2001-02 regular season to let his body heal from numerous ailments, only to return for the first game of the playoffs. When he returned, he reminded people right away just how special he is. He led the league in playoff scoring (27 points in 21 games) and received plenty of consideration for the Conn Smythe (even from hated rivals like Brendan Shanahan of the Detroit Red Wings). He let his stats and highlight-reel goals announce to the world that Peter Forsberg, that little kid from Olrnskoldsvik, is now the greatest hockey player in the world.

We at LCS Hockey heard the announcement loud and clear. We bow to you, Mr. Forsberg, and bestow upon you the LCS Hockey Intercontinental Title.

Hear ye, hear ye, we hereby proclaim Peter Forsberg as "The People's Champion."

Forsberg is the quintessential hockey player. He might not be as fast as a Sergei Fedorov, have the shot of an Alexei Kovalev, or the quickness of a Joe Sakic. He might not be able to pound guys into the boards like Owen Nolan, or provide the leadership of a Steve Yzerman. But Forsberg has a little bit of everything a hockey player should have. Some might call the Colorado Avalanche star the total package.

He skates.
He shoots.
He scores.
He passes.
He bumps.
He mucks.
He grinds.
He hits.
He hits hard.
He backchecks.
He thinks defense first.
He tallies timely goals.
He wins.

The Trade The trade that brought Peter Forsberg to Quebec/Colorado: To Quebec -- Ron Hextall Peter Forsberg Steve Duchesne Kerry Huffman Mike Ricci Chris Simon 1993 1st-round selection (Jocelyn Thibault) 1994 1st-round selection (later traded to the Toronto Maple Leafs, later traded to the Washington Capitals - Nolan Baumgartner) Cash To Philadelphia -- Eric Lindros

Back in 1992, then-Nordiques GM Pierre Page was smart enough to steal Forsberg from the Philadelphia Flyers. Forsberg was part of the massive Eric Lindros trade that allowed the Nords/Avs to become one of the most dominating franchises in the 1990s. The success should continue well into this decade thanks to Forsberg, who is only 29.

The Avalanche is guaranteed to have Forsberg for at least one more season. He was supposed to become a restricted free agent this offseason, but agreed to add an option year to his contract when he learned that he'd have to sit out the regular season due to his numerous ailments, including surgery on his left foot.

The Avs wisely excercised their option to keep Forsberg, who will be paid $9.5 million this coming season -- quite a bargain considering Bobby Holik will make $9 million with the Rangers.

It's not like Forsberg cares much about the money. He was in the final year of a three-year, $30-million deal when he decided to take time off to heal his beleaguered body. He didn't whine and complain about not getting paid. He quietly struck a deal with the club that stated that when he eventually came back, he'd be paid on a pro-rated basis. He also agreed to add the option year to his contract.

Perhaps that, more than anything, allows Forsberg to stand above the rest. He is a consummate team player, and a consummate professional.

For the amount of abuse he takes on the ice, Forsberg has every right to go ballistic on league representatives or officials for a lack of calls. But he has never pulled a Theo Fleury and left his teammates high and dry. To my knowledge, he hasn't pulled a Lemieux and labeled the NHL as a "garage league" either.

Actually, it might be in Forsberg's best interest to do just that. He needs to draw more attention to the fact that he's getting hammered with illegal tactics on a nightly basis. The NHL has vowed once again to crack down on the obstruction, but it's doubtful that the league will follow through. Begging and pleading never worked for Lemieux, but it's worth a shot. If Forsberg's body keeps taking punishment like it has during his first eight years in the league, his career will go the route Lemieux's did -- one of the greatest, yet one that could have offered fans so much more.

Forsberg did a wise thing by sitting out the regular season. If Lemieux had the supporting cast around him and a playoff guarantee that Foppa has in Colorado, he probably would have done the same thing.

Skipping the 2001-02 regular season might have added several more years to Forsberg's career. If that's the case, hockey fans everywhere should be thankful. We'd like to see "The People's Champion" hang around the game for a long, long time.

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