To most hockey fans, Peter Forsberg is one of the greatest players ever to lace up in the NHL. Highly competitive and fiercely skilled, he mastered every element of the game. Yet despite his physical style, Forsberg dropped the gloves only once—and it happened to be against Sean Avery.
Peter Forsberg was a uniquely gifted player with exceptional hockey intelligence. He could score, he could create, and he could battle. Often credited with popularizing the reverse hit, he thrived in physical games and never backed down from contact.
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Peter Forsberg career stats
His competitiveness earned him an overflowing trophy cabinet: two Stanley Cups, two Olympic gold medals, two World Championships, a Calder Trophy, a Hart Trophy, and an Art Ross Trophy. Forsberg played just 708 NHL games but recorded 885 points. His points-per-game average of 1.25 still ranks ninth in NHL history.
Despite his strength and physicality, Forsberg fought only once—and even that happened by accident during a 2003 preseason game in Las Vegas. Forsberg was with the Colorado Avalanche, while Avery suited up for the Los Angeles Kings.
Peter Forsberg fought Sean Avery
Speaking to the Swedish TV channel Viaplay, Forsberg recalled the hilarious mishap:
“I fought Sean Avery during the preseason. As I remember it, I landed a few punches. But I got help—someone jumped in, so it wasn’t a long fight. He was going at it during the game, and after the second period one of our defensemen said, ‘Can you start against Avery, and then I’ll come and knock him down?’ I thought, ‘Perfect,’ and then I told Avery, ‘Do you really have to keep doing that? It’s a preseason game in Vegas. Do you really have to fight here?’ Forsberg recalls.
”Oops…”
But he kept going, so my buddy was going to knock him down. Then Ian Laperriere on the Kings saw what was happening and went after my defenseman, leaving me alone with Avery. I thought, ‘Oops, this might not be good.’ Avery led the league in penalty minutes that year. So my claim to fame is that I fought the guy who won the penalty league,” Forsberg recalls.
So who won the fight? According to HockeyFights.com, the victory went to Forsberg.
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