2021-22 Season Rewind: Gustav Forsling

Gustav Forsling is really settling into a groove in South Florida.
Building off a strong first season with the Panthers, the 26-year-old defenseman posted new career-high marks in goals (10), assists (27), points (37) and games played (71) in 2021-22.
"This has been the most fun I've ever had in a season," Forsling said after cleaning out his locker at FLA Live Arena in May. "For sure the ending wasn't what we wanted, but I think we took a lot of good steps in the right direction. We're up there with the best teams, for sure."

Using his elite skating skills to slice through the neutral zone, Forsling excelled at getting the puck out of the defensive zone and into the offensive zone in the blink of an eye. At the other end of the ice, those same skills also helped him hustle back to shut down opposing rushes.
Playing primarily on the second pairing, he posted a 55.77 CF% and 63.33 GF% at 5-on-5.
"His skating ability is probably one of the best in the league," forward Patric Hornqvist said. "If you skate like that, you know that you're going to have good games almost every single night."
And he pretty much did.
Owning with the highest plus/minus on the Panthers (+41), Forsling also finished with a Corsi For rating of 50% or better in 54 of 71 games. Contributing consistently on offense as much as on defense, he fired at least one shot on the opposing in net in 63 of the games he played in.
Bookending his season with hot streaks, he opened up 2021-22 with points in three straight games, and then ended it with 12 points - including eight goals - over his final 14 contests.
"I think I had a good season, for sure," Forsling said. "I think I took the next little step in the right direction. I think I've got a couple more steps for next season. I want to keep bringing it both offensively and defensively."
Shining just as bright in the postseason while helping the Panthers win their first playoff series since 1996, Forsling, who made his NHL playoff debut last season with Florida, accumulated three assists in 10 games while leading the team's defensemen with a 61.93 CF% at 5-on-5.
But after being bounced in Round 2 by the Lightning, Forsling admitted the Cats learned a lot.
"I think it's going to be a lot of learning experiences, for sure," Forsling said. "When you think about it we should be proud of this season, but everyone wants to win. That's why we play the game. I think we're going to have a lot of learning experiences."
From waiver-wire pickup to becoming a beast on the blue line in just two seasons, Forsling, who inked a three-year extension with the Panthers last summer, feels like he's just getting started.
"It's kind of crazy it's only been two years," Forsling said. "It goes fast, for sure. I just worked hard and took the chance when I got it. Just work hard every day and it's going to work out."
COOL STAT
Forsling was in the green all season.
Leading the Panthers with an eye-popping +41 rating, that mark not only placed him tied for third in the NHL, but was also the highest plus/minus in a single season in franchise history.
"He never gets beat wide, never beat to the pucks," Hornqvist said. "His confidence to make small plays in the middle and join the rush. He's probably taken the biggest step since I came here."
Of the 71 games he appeared in, he finished with a negative rating just 13 times. But in only three of those games was he worse than -1. At the other end of the spectrum, he recorded a rating of +1 or better in 34 games, including 18 games in which he had a rating of at least +2.
In the playoffs, Forsling finished tied for first on the Cats with a +7 rating.
BEST GAME
Forsling was a force in this contest.
Helping the Panthers maintain pressure from the moment the puck dropped, he registered a goal and an assist while skating 25:06 during a 5-4 overtime win over the Sharks on Jan. 29.
Sparking the come-from-behind win, Forsling teed up a slick pass from Sam Reinhart with 54 seconds left in the first period to cut Florida's deficit down to 2-1 heading into the middle frame.
"We played a solid game," Forsling said. "We've just got to bring it."
Doing just that at 5-on-5, the Panthers owned staggering advantages over the Sharks in shot attempts (36-18) and scoring chances (24-13) when Forsling was on the ice. Additionally, his 3.01 xGF (expected goals) against San Jose led the team and was his best mark of the year.
GOAL OF THE YEAR
Now this is how you cap off a comeback.
Taking a pass from Sam Bennett before cutting back into the high slot, Forsling wired home a shot down the slot 1:45 into overtime to lift the Panthers to a 7-6 win over the Devils on April 2.
Entering the third period, Florida was trailing 6-2.
"We've been doing that all year," defenseman Brandon Montour said after the game. "We've been battling back. Even if we're down, the game's not over until the 60 minutes is done. That was a big one for us. We all believe in each other in that room no matter what the score is."