Peter Forsberg and the 1991 draft

[Marc the Habs Fan]

They showed a documentary on the Lindros trade tonight on TSN and the part that really struck me was in the final segment, when they profiled the other top picks in 1991.

That year, it seemed like it was viewed as Lindros and then 4 other guys (Falloon, Niedermayer, Lachance and Ward).

The intrigue was really at #6 - the Flyers pick. In the documentary they showed a clip from that broadcast with Bob McKenzie saying something like ''Philadelphia likes this Forsberg kid, but it may be early to pick him, they would like to trade down.'' So clearly, he had great sources...

Then they show a clip from Flyers president from those years, Jay Snider. Snider said that 2 of the Flyers scouts put their fists on the table and told the rest of the front office ''If you don't take Forsberg, fire us!''.

Finally, they showed the pick being made, a stunned Forsberg getting his jersey and then Forsberg is interviewed saying he did not see it coming and thought he would maybe go in the 2nd round.

Basically, and I know this was 21 years ago so it may be hard to remember, but was anyone else touting Forsberg as a 1st rounder that year? I know that there were virtually no independant draft scouting services back then, but was this pick definitely viewed as a shock that would have melted down the internet had there been one because no one aside from basically scouts and people in Sweden had any idea who he was?

 

[SidGenoMario]

It was a sweet documentary, are they going to make a series out of that? I would love to see more draft retrospectives.

 

[MarkusNaslund19]

I don't remember the source, but years ago I read somewhere that the Canucks were going to pick Forsberg with the next (7th pick), and even had a Canucks Jersey with Forsberg stitched on the back. Who did we end up picking? Alek Stojanov...yeah.

 

[vadim sharifijanov]

my only memory about forsberg is that people were saying it was surprising he went before naslund, who was the more highly touted prospect because of his one-shot scoring ability.

within a year, forsberg was considered the second best player not in the NHL after lindros.

 

[joe89]

my only memory about forsberg is that people were saying it was surprising he went before naslund, who was the more highly touted prospect because of his one-shot scoring ability.

within a year, forsberg was considered the second best player not in the NHL after lindros.

Naslund was more physically mature. He spent his whole draft year in the SEL, where Peter played about half in the SEL and the rest in J20(which he destroyed). The year before Markus tore up the J20 and had thrice the production of Peter. So Peter really rocketed up in their draft year. Before that year, Naslund was seen as much better and Peter has admitted aswell that Markus was always the star in their youth years.

Goes to show that it's not that important who's the better player at age 15-18. And that the scouts made the right call.

 

[Johnny Engine]

I don't remember the source, but years ago I read somewhere that the Canucks were going to pick Forsberg with the next (7th pick), and even had a Canucks Jersey with Forsberg stitched on the back. Who did we end up picking? Alek Stojanov...yeah.

Your username suggests that Stojanov didn't work out so badly for the Canucks...

 

[MarkusNaslund19]

Your username suggests that Stojanov didn't work out so badly for the Canucks...

Very true, and well put.

However, since Nazzy was still on the board when the Stojanov pick was made, it's safe to say that Quinn wasn't staring into a crystal ball.

I.E. we blundered into a piece of real good fortune.

 

[Nalyd Psycho]

I don't remember the source, but years ago I read somewhere that the Canucks were going to pick Forsberg with the next (7th pick), and even had a Canucks Jersey with Forsberg stitched on the back. Who did we end up picking? Alek Stojanov...yeah.

Yeah, I think something like four teams thought really highly of him and everyone else wrote him off.

 

[Ziggy Stardust]

Here's the video:

 

[sr edler]

Finally, they showed the pick being made, a stunned Forsberg getting his jersey and then Forsberg is interviewed saying he did not see it coming and thought he would maybe go in the 2nd round.

he's a humble 18 year old from sweden, what is he supposed to say?, i bet he knew he was going in the first round, but it's not in our mentality to be bragadocious

 

[Marc the Habs Fan]

he's a humble 18 year old from sweden, what is he supposed to say?, i bet he knew he was going in the first round, but it's not in our mentality to be bragadocious

See 18:27 of the video posted...his ''surprise level'' seemed genuine to me.

 

[backofthenet]

Hind sight and all....but wow. Quebec made out.

What was the deal from the Rangers?

 

[Ziggy Stardust]

Hind sight and all....but wow. Quebec made out.

What was the deal from the Rangers?

http://www.nytimes.com/1992/06/24/s...dd-new-twists-to-potential-lindros-trade.html

It is expected that either trade will include players, draft choices and a large sum of money. Neither team has formally identified the players involved, although it is widely speculated that the Rangers would send goalie Vanbiesbrouck and veteran defenseman James Patrick along with forwards Amonte, Sergei Nemchinov, Aleksei Kovalev and Doug Weight.

 

[Rhiessan71]

http://www.nytimes.com/1992/06/24/s...dd-new-twists-to-potential-lindros-trade.html

Yeah, it's pure speculation as to exactly what they were going to send but one name for sure was Kovalev. He was the linchpin of the Rags offer.

 

[vadim sharifijanov]

Yeah, it's pure speculation as to exactly what they were going to send but one name for sure was Kovalev. He was the linchpin of the Rags offer.

i feel like the legend of the rangers offer has grown and grown over the years.

from what i remember being printed in the papers, it was kovalev, patrick, and beezer for sure. then one of amonte and weight (which seems to have become both over the years), and picks and cash. but that was from the canadian media.

re: that NYT article from '92, i don't ever remember hearing nemchinov's name mentioned before.

 

[David Bruce Banner]

Cool video.

A few random thoughts...

1. I wonder what ever happened to that Lindros Nordique jersey?

2. European scouting sure has come a long way

3. Neil Smith is looking kinda rough these days.

 

[norrisnick]

Hind sight and all....but wow. Quebec made out.

What was the deal from the Rangers?

Doug Weight, Tony Amonte, Alexei Kovalev, John Vanbiesbrouck, three first round draft picks (1993, 1994 & 1995) and $12 million. If if you go by wiki.

 

[bling]

Thanks for posting this! What a walk down memory lane.

 

[Doomsday Device]

The Hockey News ranked Forsberg 25th, which would have been a 2nd rounder at the time.

 

[Shadyone33]

Here's the video:

Thanks for sharing the video. I enjoyed watching.

 

[Teus]

Snider said that 2 of the Flyers scouts put their fists on the table and told the rest of the front office ''If you don't take Forsberg, fire us!''.

Inge Hammarström must have been one of the two scouts. Here's from a Swedish article, when he left Flyers a few years ago:

Inge Hammarström thinks his biggest accomplishment was when he found Peter "Foppa" Forsberg and convinced Philadelphia to draft him in the beginning of the 90s. But also thinks that it was weak by the club to trade him away with a bunch of players for Eric Lindros before he even came over to the NHL.

- The club missed a chance to win a couple of Stanley Cups there. It was also sad that they didn't pick Jaromir Jagr, even though I really tried to convince them to draft him, says Inge.

 

[hockey17jp]

Bob Mackenzie's hair

 

[Hawksfan2828]

http://www.nytimes.com/1992/06/24/s...dd-new-twists-to-potential-lindros-trade.html

The Hawks made an offer for Lindros and Quebec was going to take it too. It was Belfour, Steve Smith, Larmer and a couple other players. The only reason why the deal fell apart is because Wirtz didn't want to pony up the 15 million Quebec was demanding.

Had that deal gone down the Hawks would have been a powerhouse. We still had Hasek and he obviously would have become our number 1.

 

[vadim sharifijanov]

The Hawks made an offer for Lindros and Quebec was going to take it too. It was Belfour, Steve Smith, Larmer and a couple other players. The only reason why the deal fell apart is because Wirtz didn't want to pony up the 15 million Quebec was demanding.

Had that deal gone down the Hawks would have been a powerhouse. We still had Hasek and he obviously would have become our number 1.

whoa, chicago could have been a dynasty if roenick's health holds up better playing less hard minutes behind lindros.

i definitely think they compete for a cup in '93 with hasek, peak chelios, lindros and roenick at center, and still having all those keenan grinders playing at a decent-to-high level: brent sutter, graham, matteau, noonan, ruuttu, greg gilbert, and a young grim reaper.

they'd have been a bit thin on top six talent, with only joe murphy and an aging goulet being bona fide scoring wingers, but if they still pick up amonte for noonan and matteau in '94, that team is ridiculously scary through the decade.