DENVER -- After two years of injuries, Colorado Avalanche star Peter Forsberg said Saturday he needs more time to heal and will take an indefinite leave of absence from hockey.

	Peter Forsberg said at a news conference in Stockholm that he'll continue to work out, but right now isn't in the proper frame of mind to return to playing.

A teammate said Forsberg, a six-time All-Star, told the Stanley Cup champions he would miss the entire 2001-02 season.

Forsberg, whose most recent injury was a ruptured spleen four months ago, insisted he wasn't contemplating retirement, but he had no timetable for his return.

"I just feel that right now, in my current frame of mind, I can't go out and play at the level I expect out of myself," Forsberg said. "Over the last few years, the numerous injuries and the recent surgeries made me come to this decision."

The 28-year-old Swede would be the highest-paid player in the NHL this season at $11 million, according to the NHL Players Association. But he won't be paid during his absence.

The star center held a news conference Saturday in Stockholm, Sweden, where the Avalanche were opening training camp. He also spoke by conference call to other reporters.

"I think I need to sit back and listen to my body. I'm not getting younger. My body has been taking a lot of abuse, a lot of beating the last couple of years. I need to heal my body before I get back playing. I'm taking a little break from hockey for a while," Forsberg said.

"I don't want to retire. I think I will be back. How long it's going to take, I don't know."

Colorado was scheduled to return to Colorado next Wednesday. Forsberg, however, expects to remain behind in his homeland for at least a few weeks.

"I'm going to rest my body," he said. "I'll stay here in Sweden for a while, then get back to Denver. I have a lot of friends there. I love Denver. I love the fans and this organization. I will truly miss everything."

Ville Nieminen, who finished the playoffs last season as the Avs' rookie leader in goals and assists, said Forsberg told his teammates he will not play again the entire season.

"That's what he told us before practice (Saturday)," Nieminen said. "We were shocked. I watched Peter. He looked very good on the ice. I thought he was ready for the season.

"But it's hard to see inside the guy. Peter is a big competitor. He always wants to play 100 percent. Nothing else is good enough for him. We truly believe that he's doing the right thing."

Asked if he thought Forsberg would play for Sweden in the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City, Nieminen said, "As a Finnish guy I hope he doesn't, but as a teammate and friend I hope he's going to recover his health and be ready for Christmas or whenever he starts to feel like it's time to come back."

Forsberg, who led Sweden to the 1994 Olympic gold medal, wouldn't rule out an Olympic appearance in 2002. However, Forsberg said he would expect to return to the Avalanche first.

"If I don't go back and feel good and play with the Avalanche, I won't play in the Olympics," he said.

Avalanche general manager Pierre Lacroix said the organization was "shocked at the decision, but we have to live with it. I know his feeling went deep. He told me he did not have the desire, strength and mental toughness to compete right now."

Lacroix said the Avalanche will make no attempt to replace Forsberg via trade.

"We have a lot of depth, a lot of young players," Lacroix said. "We're not going to do anything that shows Peter we have lost hope (in him returning). We want him back when he feels better."

Forsberg's playing style has made him susceptible to injury.

In 1999-00, Forsberg missed 34 games because of five separate injuries. He missed the first 23 games while recuperating from offseason shoulder surgery, then went down with a hip pointer, concussion, bruised shoulder and separated shoulder.

Last season he missed eight games with a torn rib muscle. After missing some practice time in the playoffs with a groin injury, he ruptured his spleen and underwent surgery to remove it and stop internal bleeding May 10, missing the final two rounds of the playoffs.

He didn't skate again until three weeks ago. This summer, he has been slowed by a nagging ankle injury.

Colorado's first preseason game, scheduled for Saturday, was canceled after the terrorist attacks in the United States on Tuesday.

"The thing that happened over there is a tragic thing," Forsberg said, "but it had nothing to do with my decision."