Florida Panthers defenseman Gustav Forsling has arrived.
It’s amazing how much things have changed in the 3 1/2 years since the Carolina Hurricanes placed him on waivers.
During that time, Forsling has quietly earned respect across the league with his incredibly consistent play on both ends of the floor, but particularly on defense.
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It’s been a pleasure to watch his ability to stop opposing players, no matter who they are, and absorb valuable minutes without losing his rhythm flourish over the past few seasons.
On a list that includes trading for Matthew Tkachuk and pursuing a relatively unknown Carter Verhaeghe when he first hit the open market, Panthers general manager Bill Zito bringing Forsling off waivers ranks right up there with the many home runs he’s hit since being hired to lead Florida’s front office in September 2020.
Now, Forsling is among hockey’s elite.
Minutes and responsibilities of the main couple? Done.
Votes for the Norris Trophy? Check.
Stanley Cup? Check.
Maximum contract extension? Checked.
Guldpucken? Done.
Wait, what?
We may not be familiar with the Guldpucken (which translates as golden record), but the Swedish Hockey Association awards it each year to the best Swedish hockey player of the previous season.
This year, that man was Forsling.
“It’s a huge honour and it sounds unreal when you say ‘Sweden’s best hockey player’,” Forsling said. According to the Swedish Ice Hockey Association“It is very prestigious, especially considering those who have already won the award before.”
The Guldpucken has been awarded annually since 1956 and began to include Swedish NHL players in 2014-15. Winners are selected by Expressen, a national publication in Sweden, and the Swedish Hockey Association.
Recent winners include Erik Karlsson, Gabriel Landeskog and Victor Hedman.
It’s the cap to a big year for Forsling, who, in addition to the aforementioned Stanley Cup win and eight-year contract extension, also married his longtime partner, Daniela, and saw the couple welcome their first child, Bo, all within the past 13 months.
For Forsling, known as one of the fittest men in Florida’s locker room (if not the fittest), it certainly seems like the sky is the limit.
With the way things have been going for Gus, it might behoove Panthers head coach Paul Maurice to give Forsling as much ice time as possible.
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