Jakob Forsbacka Karlsson

Playing career

Jakob Forsbacka Karlsson began his North American career in 2013–14 with the Omaha Lancers of the USHL. The following season, he topped the Lancers in scoring, putting up 53 points over 50 games. His performance earned him a spot in the 2014 CCM/USA Hockey All-American Prospects Game, where he was chosen as his team's MVP. He then committed to Boston University for the 2015–16 season. After the Terriers' 2017 NCAA tournament run, Forsbacka Karlsson inked a three-year entry-level deal with the Boston Bruins on April 2, 2017. Called up from the AHL's Providence Bruins in November 2018 to help a depleted Boston lineup, he netted his first NHL goal on November 17 in a 2–1 loss to the Arizona Coyotes. When his entry-level contract ended after the 2018–19 season—a year he split between Boston and Providence—he had set personal NHL highs with 9 points in 28 games. Facing restricted free agency while the Bruins chased the 2019 Stanley Cup, Forsbacka Karlsson chose to step away from the NHL and go back to Sweden after six years, citing family reasons. He signed a two-year contract with the Växjö Lakers of the SHL on May 21, 2019.