Philadelphia trades Forsberg

PHILADELPHIA -- The Philadelphia Flyers finally traded Peter Forsberg, sending the star center to the Central Division-leading Nashville Predators on Thursday night for Scottie Upshall, Ryan Parent and two draft picks.

Forsberg, slowed this season by his chronically troubled right foot, can become an unrestricted a free agent at the end of the season, and the Flyers decided to get some value for the former NHL MVP rather than risk losing him for nothing.

The 33-year-old Swede had 11 goals and 29 assists in 40 games for the Flyers this season, his second with Philadelphia after 10 years with Quebec and Colorado.

Forsberg has visited with doctors around the globe to find out why his foot hasn't felt right in his skate, the health issue mostly responsible for keeping him out 16 games this season. He met with team chairman Ed Snider and general manager Paul Holmgren this week to talk about his future.

The NHL-worst Flyers are 0-13-3 without Forsberg in the lineup this season.

Since Forsberg returned from an All-Star break trip to visit a foot specialist in Sweden, he has three goals and nine assists in nine games.

-- AP