Filip Forsberg

Lore & Background

As a native of Sweden, Forsberg has represented his home country at both the junior and senior levels at international tournaments. While representing Sweden, he has won five silver medals and two gold medals. Forsberg had standout performances at both the 2011 Ivan Hlinka Memorial Tournament in Břeclav, Czech Republic, and the World U18 Championships Tournament in Brno, Czech Republic, where he was a member of the silver medal-winning Sweden teams. At the World Juniors in Brno, he was also named Best Forward of the tournament. In the NHL Central Scouting Bureau's final rankings, Forsberg was the highest-rated European-based forward available in the 2012 NHL entry draft. He was eventually selected 11th overall by the Washington Capitals and signed a three-year, entry-level contract with the team on 13 July 2012. Forsberg was returned to his former club, Leksands IF, on loan for the duration of the 2012–13 season. He again improved upon his season totals for the third consecutive year to finish with 33 points in 38 games to help Leksand gain promotion to return to the Swedish Hockey League (SHL) for the following season. On 3 April 2013, while playing in Allsvenskan, Forsberg was traded to the Nashville Predators in exchange for Martin Erat and Michael Latta. Forsberg later stated that this trade rattled him because it was unusual for teams to trade first-round draft picks before they played in the NHL. When his Swedish season ended, Forsberg joined the Predators in Tennessee for the remainder of the lockout-shortened 2012–13 season. After participating in one practice with the team, Forsberg made his NHL debut on 14 April 2013 against the Detroit Red Wings. He recorded two shots on goal and finished with a minus 2 rating through 18:37 minutes of ice time. Upon making his debut at 18 years, 244 days, Forsberg became the third-youngest player in franchise history to suit up for the Predators. He later recorded his first career NHL point with an assist on David Legwand's 200th career NHL goal on 24 April against the Calgary Flames. He was reassigned to the Predators American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, the Milwaukee Admirals, on 25 April for one game to ensure he only played five games at the NHL level. This was because the Predators would burn a year of his entry-level contract if he played over five games in one season.

Reader's Guide

Forsberg is a left winger and alternate captain for the Nashville Predators. He was selected 11th overall in the 2012 NHL entry draft by the Washington Capitals but was traded to the Predators before playing for the Capitals. He made his NHL debut on 14 April 2013. He was named the NHL's Rookie of the Month in November 2014. He participated in the 2015 NHL All-Star Game as an injury replacement and scored a goal, becoming the first Predators player in franchise history to score in an NHL All-Star Game. He was voted to the 2014-15 NHL All-Rookie Team and placed fourth in Calder Trophy voting.

Did You Know?

• Forsberg was crowned tournament MVP at the 2014 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships after finishing with a silver medal and 12 points.
• He became the youngest player in franchise history to score a playoff goal at 20 years and 247 days.
• Forsberg recorded the first hat-trick in Predators franchise history during the 2015 playoffs.