The Peter Forsberg who played for the Flyers was not the Forsberg we all would like to remember from the past. He was damaged goods.

That's not to say he wasn't a joy to watch on the ice. He was. Many of us often wondered what it would have been like to have covered him in his prime. His skill level was remarkable.

The problem was that he was out of the Flyers' lineup injured more often than he was in it.

Forsberg was a nightmare to cover with his various foot, ankle and groin issues. It was much like how Eric Lindros became a nightmare at the end of his Flyers career, with his frequent concussions and running war with general manager Bob Clarke and club chairman Ed Snider.

Every day Forsberg was here, he was the story regardless of what was going on with the team on or off the ice.

When Forsberg signed here, a Denver writer who had covered him during the two Stanley Cups he won in Colorado, said, "You're going to be spending a lot of time talking to doctors and waiting for test results."

That is what happened in Philadelphia and is what happened when he returned to Colorado late this season. Forsberg's health - not his skill - was the story.

Forsberg became a huge distraction in Philadelphia. Even though the Flyers won't admit it publicly, more than a few players said they had grown tired of his injuries dominating the daily scene.

Forsberg missed the final three games of Detroit's sweep against the Avalanche with groin issues. An MRI revealed tears in both his groin areas.

"Just too many injuries," Forsberg told reporters after the Red Wings' 8-2 Game 4 blowout win. "If it doesn't get solved, that would be it. But we'll see what happens."

Unlike so many other athletes, Forsberg's side businesses produce more money than he earns in hockey. It was never about money with him. It was about the joy of playing the game.

Unfortunately, Forsberg has become one of those athletes who so much loves what he does that he's become blind to the obvious. It's time to hang up the skates and move on.

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