Forsberg, Foote want to party like it's 1999

Remember 1999? Back when George Lucas recaptured our inner geekness with “Star Wars: Episode I” and Napster was the cutting edge of technology. Back when sports legends Michael Jordan and Wayne Gretzky announced their retirements. Back when Deadmarsh, Yelle and Drury were staples of one of the top teams in the NHL.

The Avs appear to be trying to recapture some that magic nine years later.

In a couple of unexpected moves, Colorado has acquired fan favorites Adam Foote and Peter Forsberg.

I’m still holding my breath for Valeri Kamensky and Sandis Ozolinsh.

Foote is a nice pickup. He provides strong veteran leadership and, at 36, his numbers have stayed consistant with the rest of his career. Plus he provides a bigger body that Colorado sorely needs.

Plus, who doesn’t think of Adam when you see Howler’s foot on the jersey’s shoulder?

Forsberg is another question. The name alone invokes excitement in Denver, like Elway or Carmelo. But does he still have the skills or the heart that he had in his younger days? I remember the Forsberg who wasn’t afraid to throw his body around for the good of the team. I remember the Forsberg who would step up and fight the opposing team’s enforcer.

When he’s healthy, there are few and far in-between who are as well-balanced and skilled as Forsberg. But he’s missed more games (129) than he’s played (117) in the past three seasons.

Nevertheless, a first line of Sakic-Forsberg-Hejduk still sounds scary. Especially when Stastny-Smyth-Svatos would be on the second line.

Let’s hope this gamble works for the Avs.

On a side note, the Rockies may be trying to cash in on some of that magic. They just signed former Gold Glove shortstop Neifi Perez to a minor league contract.

Maybe this will open the door for legendary names such as Ben Petrick, Mark Brownson and Angel Echevarria to help the Rox improve on last year’s World Series run.

Or maybe not.