Avalanche bring former MVP Forsberg back for second go-round

DENVER -- Peter Forsberg always realized it was nothing personal, just business.

Now, he's back for another run.

Forsberg agreed to a $5 million, one-year deal Monday with the Colorado Avalanche, a team he won two Stanley Cup championships with before their split following the league's lockout in 2004-05.

"There were no hard feelings," Forsberg said of his departure due to salary-cap reasons. "We went our separate ways as good friends."

The Avalanche are hoping the arrival of Forsberg can help propel them into the postseason. The team is currently four points out of the final playoff spot in the Western Conference with 19 games to play. Colorado recently got back Ryan Smyth, Paul Stastny and captain Joe Sakic from injuries.

"It's a real good lineup," Forsberg said. "When everyone gets back, hopefully we can show we have a really good team and have a shot at going far."

Forsberg is trying to come back from a balky right foot. Not that Colorado is all that concerned about it.

The Avs hope Peter Forsberg can reinvigorate their playoff hopes. (AP)

The Avalanche decided his ailing foot was a risk worth taking. Forsberg will earn around $1 million since there are about six weeks left in the regular season.

"He's a premier player in this league," Avalanche executive vice president and general manager Francois Giguere said in a conference call. "We're very excited Peter agreed to come back."

In addition to winning two Stanley Cups in his nine seasons with the Avalanche, he also won the NHL's MVP award in 2003 after scoring 29 goals and adding 77 assists.

Foot and ankle injuries plagued him in the years that followed, but the 34-year-old forward said his surgically repaired right foot is on the mend.

"I feel good," Forsberg said. "I'm confident that it's going to be good."

Forsberg didn't know when he'd return to the ice in an Avalanche sweater. The team is in the midst of a five-game road swing, which concludes Wednesday in Vancouver.