The Florida Panthers have claimed defenseman Gustav Forsling off waivers. The Swedish defenseman, who was drafted in the 5th round, 126th overall in 2014, is off to play for his 4th NHL team in his 6-year career. Starting his pro career in Sweden with Linkopings HC of the SHL, the 18-year-old put up 6 points in 38 games. In the 2015 World Juniors, the Swedish defenseman put up 8 points in 7 games. The next year, in Sweden, his regular season was better but his WJC tournament was worse. With Linkopings, he put up 21 points in 48 games. But in the World Juniors, he only put up 3 points in 6 games. This production was good enough to land him a spot on the Chicago Blackhawks for the 2016-17 season.
NHL/AHL Career
Before ever playing a game, Forsling would be traded. Vancouver shipped 18-year-old Gustav Forsling to Chicago, for Adam Clendening. Forsling would play 38 games with the Blackhawks but got sent down to the AHL. With the Rockford Ice Hogs, Forsling would play 30 games and put up 8 points. Throughout the next few seasons, Forsling would have to fight for a spot on the Blackhawks. Playing 41 games in 2017-18, and 43 in 2018-19, Forsling would go up and down the lineup.
With the 2019-20 season shortened, the 5th rounder never got to see NHL ice during that season. In the offseason, he was shipped away to the Carolina Hurricanes along with Anton Forsberg, in exchange for Calvin de Haan and Aleksi Saarela. Despite not touching NHL ice last season, Forsling played 57 games in the AHL with the Charlotte Checkers, scoring 26 points. But in Forsling’s 122 game NHL career, he has 27 points and 8 goals.
Coach Q on Forsling: “Consistency for a defenseman is always the best measuring stick… He’s got the ability to kill plays, make plays, and join the attack with a big shot from the point… He looks great and feels great.”
Coach Quenneville coached Forsling in Chicago for three seasons, making this signing low risk, and high reward.