There will be no sweepstakes for Peter Forsberg this season.
The former NHL star will stay home and play the remainder of the 2009-10 season with Modo of the Swedish Elite League.
"My understanding is Peter is going to stay and play in Modo and he won't return to the NHL this year," Vancouver Canucks GM Mike Gillis said Monday at practice.
"It's more of a day to day thing with his foot as opposed to a situation where he's confident he can play," said Gillis. "I think it's a tribute to him that he didn't want to put himself in a position where he was taking a roster spot and not being an everyday player in the NHL."
The 36-year-old free agent is hoping his chronic foot problem holds up in Sweden this season, and will attempt a return to the NHL in 2010-11.
The Canucks, Boston Bruins, Philadelphia Flyers and New York Rangers are among the handful of NHL teams interested in the former Hart Trophy winner and two-time Stanley Cup champion.