From unwanted to one of the world's hottest backs. Gustav Forsling, 27, has made a spectacular journey in the NHL with Florida Panthers – and can now crown it by becoming Stanley Cup champion. When the Stanley Cup Finals between Florida and Edmonton start on Sunday night, it will be the culmination of a playoff where the former Linköping defenseman is one of the players most talked about. He is fourth in the back's scoring list in the playoffs – 4 goals and 11 points in 17 matches – and second in the plus/minus statistics (+11). In the latter category, he was the best of all (+51) during the regular season. At home in Sweden, he is relatively unknown and in the shadow of successful blue-and-yellow NHL defenders such as Erik Karlsson, Victor Hedman, and Rasmus Dahlin, all three of whom played for Tre Kronor in the Czech Republic in May. Montén has been Forsling's coach in three different teams, Linköping J20 (head coach), A-team (assistant) and JVM-team (assistant) when the back was still a junior. He shone even then, but Montén also describes him as a bit comfortable: Gustav Forsling had just turned 20 when he left his hometown club Linköping for the NHL in 2016. First in Chicago, where he played in the NHL and farm team, then in Carolina where he only played in the farm team. When he was signed by Florida in January 2021, it was from the so-called waivers list, where unwanted players or those sent to the farm team end up. Since then, his career has gone straight up and in the winter he signed an eight-year contract extension worth 480 million kronor. At home in Sweden, he was primarily an offensive defenseman, now he is a two-way player. Montén sees that he can take even more offense. Then he will be an even bigger challenger for the Norris Trophy, the prize for the best NHL defenseman. But first, he has to stop the stars Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl in Edmonton – then Florida can win its first Stanley Cup title. Florida Oliver Ekman Larsson, 32, defenseman. Hometown: Tingsryd. First Stanley Cup Finals. Playoff record so far: 17 matches – 1 goal – 3 assists – 4 points. Greatest achievements: Two World Championship gold medals, 2017 and 2018. Gustav Forsling, 27, defenseman. Hometown: Linköping. Second Stanley Cup Finals, loss to Vegas last year. Playoff record: 17 – 4 – 7 – 11. Greatest achievements: Junior of the year in Swedish ice hockey 2015-16. Kevin Stenlund, 27, forward. Hometown: IFK Tumba. First Stanley Cup Finals. Playoff record: 17 – 0 – 1 – 1. Greatest achievements: SM-gold with HV71 2017. Edmonton Mattias Ekholm, 34, defenseman. Hometown: IFK Ore. Second Stanley Cup Finals, loss to Pittsburgh with Nashville 2017. Playoff record: 18 – 4 – 3 – 7. Greatest achievements: World Championship gold 2018, SM-gold with Brynäs 2012. Philipp Broberg, 22, defenseman. Hometown: Örebro. First Stanley Cup Finals. Playoff record: 3 – 1 – 0 – 1. Greatest achievements: World Championship gold U18, 2019. Mattias Janmark, 31, forward. Hometown: Stocksund. Second Stanley Cup Finals, loss to Tampa Bay with Dallas 2020. Playoff record: 18 – 2 – 2 – 4. Greatest achievements: World Championship gold 2018. Schedule for the Stanley Cup Finals (Swedish times): Sunday, June 9, 02:00: Florida-Edmonton. Tuesday, June 11, 02:00: Florida-Edmonton. Friday, June 14, 02:00: Edmonton-Florida. Sunday, June 16, 02:00: Edmonton-Florida. Wednesday, June 19, 02:00 (if necessary): Florida-Edmonton. Saturday, June 22, 02:00 (if necessary): Edmonton-Florida. Tuesday, June 25, 02:00 (if necessary): Florida-Edmonton.
Photo: Julia Nikhinson/AP/TT
From unwanted to one of the world's hottest backs. Gustav Forsling, 27, has made a spectacular journey in the NHL with Florida Panthers – and can now crown it by becoming Stanley Cup champion. I could think of him winning the Norris Trophy within three to four years, says Tomas Montén, his former coach in Linköping.
