Flip Flop on Foppa?

It sounds like the Flyers are finally coming to their senses and going to shop Forsberg around to the highest bidder for the rest of the season. They also seem hopeful that Foppa will come back to the Flyers after the season (ala Mark Recchi's trade last Spring to Carolina and resigning in Pittsburgh this Summer).

Here is some interesting tidbits from Anthony Sanflippo's article in the Delco Times:

One informed rumor circulating out of New York has the Rangers expressing interest in Forsberg, but Flyers General Manager Paul Holmgren said New York G.M. Glen Sather has not contacted him about the availability of the Flyers captain.

And while Holmgren wouldn’t go so far as to say the Flyers are shopping Forsberg, he did say the team would like to trade a group of players, which technically, Forsberg fits into.

"The assets that we have that we’re looking to move are guys in the last year of their contracts that are unrestricted free agents at the end of the year," said Holmgren. "And we only have a few of them. You don’t have to be a genius to figure out who those guys are."

Here’s the list: Forsberg, Kyle Calder, Mike York, Robert Esche, Sami Kapanen, Todd Fedoruk, Dmitry Afanasenkov as well as a couple guys on the Phantoms roster in the AHL.....

Forsberg has a no trade clause, but might approve a deal to a team that is in playoff contention, much like the Rangers.

"Yeah, that would make sense --but that’s you saying it," Forsberg told a reporter when asked about waiving his no trade clause.

"I don’t think I would go to a team that’s in 15th place or 14th place."....

Speaking of questions, how would the Flyers be assured Forsberg would return to Philadelphia in the summer, and not sign on with another team?

While it would be against NHL policy to have a handshake agreement between the two sides that would guarantee his return, there has been a precedent of sorts in many instances where deadline deals basically amounted to rent-a-player situations.These situations have ended with the traded player eventually re-signing with his former team....

The Daily Times has learned from a separate source that the answer is yes, the Flyers do anticipate both a trade of Forsberg before the deadline and will hope to re-sign him during the summer’s free agent signing period.

"I know he likes it here and we like him and we think he’s a great player and we think he can help us both now and down the road," Holmgren said.

Hell, the Flyers absolutely have to take this gamble. For all intents and purposes, this season is over, so why not get something back for Forsberg. Plus, there is no guarantee that Foppa doesn't decide to head back to Sweden for good after the season. If the Flyers can get a bidding war started between a couple of contenders, then the Flyers could get a couple of useful pieces for the rebuilding process.

To me this is a no brainer. I just pray that Holmgren doesn't screw it up.