Gustav Forsling

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Gustav Forsling
Forsling with the Florida Panthers in 2023
Born (1996-06-12) 12 June 1996
Linköping, Sweden
Height 6 ft 0 in (183 cm)
Weight 181 lb (82 kg; 12 st 13 lb)
Position Defence
Shoots Left
NHL team
Former teams		 Florida Panthers
Linköpings HC
Chicago Blackhawks
National team  Sweden
NHL draft 126th overall, 2014
Vancouver Canucks
Playing career 2014–present

Gustav Forsling (born 12 June 1996) is a Swedish professional ice hockey player who is a defenceman for the Florida Panthers of the National Hockey League (NHL). Forsling was selected by the Vancouver Canucks in the fifth round (126th overall) of the 2014 NHL entry draft, but did not play for the team. He previously played for the Chicago Blackhawks. Forsling won back-to-back Stanley Cup championships with the Panthers in 2024 and 2025.

Playing career

A product of Linköpings HC, Forsling made his senior Swedish Hockey League (SHL) debut with the club during the 2014–15 SHL season. After his selection by the Vancouver Canucks in the 2014 NHL entry draft, Forsling's NHL rights were traded to the Chicago Blackhawks in exchange for Adam Clendening on 29 January 2015.[1]

On 11 May 2016, he signed a three-year contract with the Chicago Blackhawks.[2] He made the Blackhawks' opening night roster to begin his first North American season in 2016–17.[3] On 13 November, Forsling scored his first NHL goal in a 3–2 win against the Montreal Canadiens.[4] He was later reassigned to AHL affiliate, the Rockford IceHogs on 6 January 2017.[5]

On 24 June 2019, Forsling was traded by the Blackhawks, along with Anton Forsberg to the Carolina Hurricanes in exchange for Calvin de Haan and Aleksi Saarela.[6][7] On 16 July, he was re-signed to a one-year contract by the Hurricanes.[8] During the 2020 off-season, on 24 October 2020, Forsling signed a one-year contract with Carolina.[9]

On 8 January 2021, Forsling was placed on waivers by the Hurricanes prior to the delayed 2020–21 season. The following day, he was subsequently claimed by the Florida Panthers.[10] On 15 July, the Panthers signed Forsling to a three-year, $8 million contract extension.[11]

On 7 March 2024, Forsling was signed to an eight-year, $46 million contract extension by the Panthers.[12][13] Forsling earned his first Stanley Cup championship when the Panthers won the seventh game of the Stanley Cup Final against the Edmonton Oilers on 24 June.[14] In the following season, Forsling earned his second consecutive Stanley Cup championship as the Panthers returned to the Stanley Cup Final for a third straight year, defeating the Edmonton Oilers for a second straight year in six games.[15]

International play

Forsling represented Sweden's junior national teams on several occasions. Serving as captain for Sweden, he was named to the All-Star team at the 2015 World Junior Championships. He his first played for Sweden senior team during the 2015–16 Euro Hockey Tour.

Personal life

Forsling has an older brother, Hampus[16] and a younger brother, Hannes.[17]

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

    Regular season   Playoffs
Season Team League GPGAPtsPIM GPGAPtsPIM
2011–12 Linköpings HC J18 93030 —————
2011–12 Linköpings HC J18 Allsv 1823510 30110
2012–13 Linköpings HC J18 1426810 —————
2012–13 Linköpings HC J18 Allsv 1752710 20000
2012–13 Linköpings HC J20 140118 10000
2013–14 Linköpings HC J18 21230 —————
2013–14 Linköpings HC J18 Allsv 32132 51010
2013–14 Linköpings HC J20 446121836 21342
2014–15 Linköpings HC SHL 383368 —————
2015–16 Linköpings HC SHL 48615214 61234
2016–17 Chicago Blackhawks NHL 382354 —————
2016–17 Rockford IceHogs AHL 3017812 —————
2017–18 Chicago Blackhawks NHL 41310138 —————
2017–18 Rockford IceHogs AHL 182356 131456
2018–19 Rockford IceHogs AHL 50222 —————
2018–19 Chicago Blackhawks NHL 4336930 —————
2019–20 Charlotte Checkers AHL 578182630 —————
2020–21 Florida Panthers NHL 43512178 61120
2021–22 Florida Panthers NHL 7110273718 100334
2022–23 Florida Panthers NHL 8213284140 2126810
2023–24 Florida Panthers NHL 7910293943 24491312
2024–25 Florida Panthers NHL 8011203116 231458
2025–26 Florida Panthers NHL 802262851 —————
SHL totals 869182712 61234
NHL totals 55759161220218 848233134

International

Year Team Event Result   GPGAPtsPIM
2013 Sweden U17 1st place, gold medalist(s) 60222
2013 Sweden IH18 7th 40006
2014 Sweden WJC18 4th 74152
2015 Sweden WJC 4th 73580
2016 Sweden WJC 4th 62130
2025 Sweden 4NF 3rd place, bronze medalist(s) 30000
2026 Sweden OG 7th 51124
Junior totals 30991810
Senior totals 81124

Awards and honours

Award Year Ref
NHL
Stanley Cup champion 2024, 2025 [18][19]

References

  1. "Blackhawks acquire Forsling for Clendening". Chicago Blackhawks. 29 January 2015. Archived from the original on 30 January 2015. Retrieved 29 January 2015.
  2. "Blackhawks agree to terms with Forsling". blackhawks.nhl.com. 11 May 2016. Archived from the original on 16 May 2016. Retrieved 14 May 2016.
  3. "NHL announces opening night rosters". NHL.com. 12 October 2016. Archived from the original on 15 January 2025. Retrieved 15 March 2025.
  4. Kuc, Chris (13 November 2016). "Patrick Kane's goal leads Blackhawks past Canadiens in clash of top teams". Chicago Tribune. Archived from the original on 17 November 2016. Retrieved 14 November 2016.
  5. "Blackhawks assign Forsling and Abbott". NHL.com. 6 January 2017. Archived from the original on 15 March 2025. Retrieved 15 March 2025.
  6. "Canes Acquire Forsberg, Forsling from Chicago". NHL.com. 24 June 2019. Archived from the original on 21 January 2025. Retrieved 15 March 2025.
  7. "Blackhawks acquire De Haan, Saarela". The Sports Network. 24 June 2019. Archived from the original on 24 June 2019. Retrieved 24 June 2019.
  8. "Canes Re-Sign Gustav Forsling to One-Year Deal". NHL.com. 16 July 2019. Archived from the original on 15 March 2025. Retrieved 15 March 2025.
  9. "Canes Sign Gustav Forsling to One-Year Deal | Carolina Hurricanes". NHL.com. 23 October 2020. Archived from the original on 28 December 2024. Retrieved 15 March 2025.
  10. "Florida Panthers claim defenseman Gustav Forsling off waivers". Florida Panthers. 9 January 2020. Archived from the original on 12 January 2021. Retrieved 9 January 2020.
  11. "Florida Panthers Re-Sign Gustav Forsling to a Three-Year Contract". NHL.com. 15 July 2021. Archived from the original on 14 January 2025. Retrieved 15 March 2025.
  12. "Florida Panthers Agree to Terms with Defenseman Gustav Forsling on Eight-Year Contract Extension". NHL.com. 7 March 2024. Archived from the original on 7 March 2024. Retrieved 14 March 2024.
  13. "Florida Panthers extend Gustav Forsling on eight-year, $46M deal". TSN. 7 March 2024. Archived from the original on 7 March 2024. Retrieved 7 March 2024.
  14. "Top Cats: Panthers win their 1st Stanley Cup, top Oilers 2-1 in Game 7". AP News. 24 June 2024. Archived from the original on 25 June 2024. Retrieved 25 June 2024.
  15. "Panthers 5-1 Oilers (Jun 17, 2025) Game Recap". ESPN. Retrieved 22 June 2025.
  16. "Hampus Forsling player profile". eliteprospects.com. 6 May 2016. Retrieved 6 May 2016.
  17. "Hannes Forsling player profile". eliteprospects.com. 6 May 2016. Retrieved 6 May 2016.
  18. Satriano, David (24 June 2024). "How Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers were built". NHL.com. Archived from the original on 11 July 2024. Retrieved 15 March 2025.
  19. Satriano, David (18 June 2025). "How Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers were built". NHL.com. Archived from the original on 18 June 2025. Retrieved 20 June 2025.