Ola said:
I agree. But somewhere you gotta draw the line. Thats why I said things must be put in perspective. Because I can almost gaurantee you that there isn't a single 100% healty hockeyplayer in Febuary. It seems like everyone in Philly have lost that perspective. If anyone with the slightest injury or need for 3 weeks rest would turn down the Olympics the NHL wouldn't participate in it, there wouldn't be any players left, thats a fact.
Forsberg is a "borderline case". First of all he will only play if this injury is 100%. Thats what all he speculation is about. There is no question that he could play a elimination game on the 20th something of Febuary. Gustaffson only wants him if he is healty to start the tournament.
But Forsberg could use 3 weeks of rest to get back in shape after missing some time, thats why Philly are putting pressure on him. Though I am 100% sure guys like Jagr for example is in the same postion, he would benefit tremendously from NYR perspective if he got 3 weeks rest now. Though you don't see NYR putting pressure on him, I can't say I am that suprised its Bobby Clarke and Philly who is involved in this, can you?
I don't think the particular city, owner, team, or GM has anything to do with it. I think it's pretty clear-cut that this is arguably the best player in the world we're talking about, and he's got a nagging injury that keeps him from playing which could get a lot worse if he doesn't rest it. Forsberg has said, and I agree with him, that if he can play, injured or not, he'll play (whether that be in the Olympics or in the NHL). The fact that he's not playing right now speaks volumes about how much this injury bothers him. I guess it's not really a question of whether he's 100%, it's a question of whether he can be of use to either team or not, and right now he feels he's not a use to either team because his groin prevents him.
Obviously, and I agree with you, EVERY player would benefit from the time off, but it comes down to who can still play without risking further injury, not whether they are totally healthy. You're right, most players have nagging injuries all season, but you'd probably never know unless they told you. It's the players with injuries that keep them out of the lineup that are the cause for debate. If Forsberg can't play for Philly, he shouldn't play for Sweden, partly because it raises questions about his allegiances and desire to win for which team and partly because it's a risk to his health.
And again, you're right, if every player with the slightest injury stayed home for 3 weeks did in fact stay home, the Olympics would quite frankly, suck. But there's a difference between a slight injury, let's say, a bruise or a strained wrist or something, and a an injury that prevents a guy from skating, like a groin strain/pull. If Forsberg can't physically skate for Philly, he can't skate for Sweden. It's that simple. That's why they want him to prove, before the Olympics, that he's healthy enough to play in a game or two (there's only 2 left).
But if Jagr has a bruise on his hand that kind of hurts when he handles the puck, but can obviously still get out there and compete, I'm not telling him to stay home. It's a case by case debate. One thing for one guy, a different thing for another guy. Injuries that affect the skating ability of a player need to be rested, especially the groin. A bum knee can be dealt with, Yzerman did it, but the groin is where the push comes from when you're skating, it can't be messed around with.
I totally understand that everyone in Sweden wants him to play. Hell, I want Niedermayer to play for Canada, but he did the right thing shutting her down and having the surgery because his health in relation to the team that pays him is more important than risking further injury by playing for a gold medal.
