Avs look to the past

Foote, Forsberg rejoin Colorado

CENTENNIAL, COLO. -- Joe Sakic was feeling a little nostalgic Friday, reflecting back on the Colorado Avalanche's glory days.

Those days are almost here again.

With Adam Foote already back in an Avalanche sweater and Peter Forsberg set to arrive in town soon, the Avalanche captain said Friday that it felt "like old times" around the locker room.

All that's missing is Patrick Roy in net.

Sakic, Forsberg and Foote helped guide Colorado to two Stanley Cup championships before the team was disassembled following the NHL lockout.

"It seems right that they're here," Sakic said. "It's too bad they both left, but it's great to have them back."

Or, in the case of Forsberg, almost back. He cleared a major obstacle Friday as his immigration papers were pushed through, paving the way for his impending arrival in Denver.

Forsberg is expected to skate at the Pepsi Center this morning, but coach Joel Quenneville labeled his availability for the game against the Los Angeles Kings tonight as "very doubtful."

Quenneville thought it was more realistic Forsberg would play Tuesday night at home against Vancouver. Forsberg has been battling a nagging foot injury that has plagued him in recent years.

"It's more Peter's call because he knows his body," Quenneville said. "I'll visit with him in the morning and see how he feels."

Quenneville doesn't feel a need to rush Forsberg back into the lineup even though the season is dwindling to a close -- only 17 games left -- and the Avalanche is tied with Nashville for the eighth and final playoff spot in the Western Conference. Quenneville learned the art of patience through injuries to Sakic, Ryan Smyth and Paul Stastny this season.

In Vancouver on Wednesday, Quenneville approached Sakic and Forsberg to see how they felt about skating on the same line upon Forsberg's return.

It wasn't a tough sell.

"We all know what Peter can do on the ice," Sakic said. "He's a tremendous hockey player."

That's why Ian Laperriere was lobbying hard to be included on that line. In fact, he talked Friday like it was already a finished deal.

"I can't wait to play with Peter on my line," Laperriere said with a grin.

Quenneville will be receiving quite a few volunteers to play on the Sakic-Forsberg line.

"Everybody might campaign for that opportunity to play with Peter," Quenneville said.

The Avalanche had plenty of success with Foote in charge of the defense the last time he was with Colorado. Foote is hoping for similar results.

"It's going to be exciting to be back in that building," said Foote, who was officially introduced at a news conference Friday, along with Ruslan Salei, a defenseman Colorado acquired from Florida.

Foote said he was caught off guard by the trade that sent him from Columbus to Colorado. He was summoned upstairs by the Blue Jackets on Tuesday and figured it was to sign a new deal.

And then he found out he'd been dealt to Colorado.

"I was a little bit in shock," said Foote, who quickly caught a plane to Calgary later that night where he helped the Avalanche to an overtime win over the Flames. "It was an interesting day. It was disappointing for me not to sign [in Columbus] and finish a job, but it's exciting to come back here where I had great memories."