Peter Forsberg is making news in Philadelphia, and it's not good. As reported by several media outlets, Forsberg was asked to be the fourth Flyer to participate in Saturday night's shootout against the New York Rangers and said no.
"He didn't want to shoot," Flyers head coach Ken Hitchcock told The Trenton Times.
Didn't want to shoot? What kind of excuse is that?
Forsberg eventually did opt into the shootout, which went through 26 players before the Rangers' Marcel Hossa scored on Philadelphia goalie Antero Nittymaki.
After the game, Forsberg was asked why he didn't want to shoot earlier. According to The Times, Forsberg's excuses ran the gauntlet from all his sticks were broken to he was uncomfortable using his new sticks to this: "I had been lacking confidence going into it and I thought we had better shooters than me."
Those better shooters were Petr Nedved and Kyle Calder, neither of whom scored.
Forsberg has a goal and an assist in two games so far and scored 75 points in 60 games with the Flyers last season. That he would beg off a chance to win the game for his team speaks volumes about his lack of confidence and perhaps lack of commitment, too. After all, he said no, and no one expects that from Peter (The Once Great) Forsberg.