The odds are with the NHL.(hockey)(Brief Article)

Hockey recently has been filled with wonderful oddities--such as Avalanche center Peter Forsberg telling us how much he wanted doctors to give him permission to play in the Stanley Cup finals last June. But then, suddenly, when the Avs are ready to drop the puck in training camp, his heart isn't in it? What's the deal with that?

"Everything went real well" Forsberg said when training camp began in his native Sweden. "Obviously, it's great to be back on the ice with a hockey stick in your hands."

As we know now, training camp was not so great for Forsberg after all. His leave of absence, which he said was brought on by ankle surgeries and a generally battered body, is indefinite.

What he really meant: I hate being hurt. I hate flying. (The announcement came four days after the terrorist attacks in the United States.) The NHL's regular season doesn't mean anything to me. See you on the ice at Salt Lake City during the Olympics.

So despite spending millions to re-sign Joe Sakic, Rob Blake and Patrick Roy, the defending champion Avalanche, minus Forsberg and defensemen Ray Bourque (retired), Jon Klemm (signed by Chicago as a free agent) and Adam Foote (out at least a month after shoulder surgery), finds that the rest of the NHL has gained ground.

Why? Because the Red Wings added Dominik Hasek, Brett Hull and Luc Robitaille. The Stars spent their money on Pierre Turgeon, Donald Audette, Valeri Kamensky and Jyrki Lumme. And the Flyers added Jeremy Roenick, Jiri Dopita, Jan Hlavac, Pavel Brendl, Eric Weinrich and Kim Johnsson.

More oddities?