Feature Photo: Getty Images
Gustav Forsling is having himself a moment, or, more accurately, moments.
Life for the 28-year-old Florida Panthers defenceman has been as good as it gets over the past eight months.
In January, Forsling and his wife, Daniela, welcomed their first child, a son named Bo. Two months later, the blueliner signed an eight-year contract extension with Florida. At the end of June, he celebrated his first career Stanley Cup victory with the Panthers. Days after hoisting the Cup, he was one of the first six players named to Team Sweden for the 4 Nations Face-Off.
“It’s been pretty amazing, everything that has happened,” Forsling told NHLPA.com. “I feel very fortunate to have experienced so many good things.”
Getting to experience those hockey successes didn’t come without its share of challenges.
In 2019-20, Forsling, who had played in 122 games with the Chicago Blackhawks, spent most of the season in the American Hockey League with the Charlotte Checkers.
In January 2021, Florida claimed him off waivers, giving him the opportunity to make the Panthers’ roster out of training camp.
Forsling achieved that goal and played in 43 games that season.
In 2021-22, he skated in 71 regular-season contests and 10 postseason games.
“You just stay focused and believe in yourself,” said Forsling.
“If you do that, hopefully, good things will come of it.”
In 2023-24, good things did.
Forsling, who posted an NHL career-best 41 points in 2022-23, led all Florida blueliners with 39 points in 79 games and recorded 13 points in 24 playoff contests en route to the Cup triumph.
“I learned a lot about myself over the playoff run,” said Forsling, who was originally the 126th overall pick of Vancouver in 2014, but never played for the Canucks.
“But the biggest thing was to shut all the noise out and be in the moment.”
Just like he was when he had his day with the Stanley Cup in his hometown.
Forsling decided part of that day would include taking things to new heights with the trophy.
The Stanley Cup accompanied Forsling, decked out in his No. 42 Panthers jersey, on a helicopter tour of Linkoping.
Earlier in the morning, breakfast was on the menu as he and his mother ate Swedish cinnamon rolls from the Cup.
In the afternoon, Forsling brought hockey’s top team prize to an appreciative crowd gathered at Saab Arena, the place he played home games for Linkoping HC of the Swedish Hockey League.
With the Stanley Cup parade and celebrations in the rearview mirror, Forsling still has plenty to look forward to.
Along with fellow defencemen Victor Hedman (Tampa Bay Lightning) and Erik Karlsson (Pittsburgh Penguins), and forwards Filip Forsberg (Nashville Predators), William Nylander (Toronto Maple Leafs) and Mika Zibanejad (New York Rangers), Forsling was one of the first six players named to the Team Sweden who will compete at the 4 Nations Face-Off that will be played in Boston and Montreal, Feb. 12-20.
The remainder of the rosters for Sweden, the United States, Canada and Finland will be announced as early as November 29.
“It means a lot, it’s a very big honour,” Forsling said of being selected to represent his country.
A 2015 and 2016 IIHF World Junior Championship participant in 2015 and 2016, it was the 2015 edition that was co-hosted by Toronto and Montreal that was an unforgettable experience for Forsling – despite missing out on a medal.
“Playing in that tournament in Toronto is probably the best [international hockey] memory because it was the first time I played in a sold-out NHL arena,” who led the tournament’s defencemen in points (8), goals (3) and assists (5).
Another highlight of suiting up for Sweden came in 2013 at the World Under-17 Hockey Challenge.
Forsling skated in six games and had two assists as he and his teammates struck gold.
“Representing my country was something I dreamed about since I was a kid.”
As if things could get any better, Forsling was recently awarded the Goldenpucken (Golden Puck), given annually to the top hockey player from Sweden, voted on by the newspaper Expressen and the Swedish Ice Hockey Association.
He is the third defenceman to receive the award since voting was expanded in 2015-16 to include players participating in leagues beyond Sweden, joining fellow blueliners and NHLPA members Erik Karlsson (2016, 2017, 2023) and Victor Hedman (2015, 2021).
With the good fortune, all well-earned, that he has experienced in recent times, the odds suggest that trend will likely continue for Forsling.
“You always want to keep building your game and whether it’s for your country or in the NHL, you want to play your part to help the team be successful.”
