Gustav Forsling

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.

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

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. On 16 July, he was re-signed to a one-year contract by the Hurricanes. During the 2020 off-season, on 24 October 2020, Forsling signed a one-year contract with Carolina.

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. On 15 July, the Panthers signed Forsling to a three-year, $8 million contract extension.

On 7 March 2024, Forsling was signed to an eight-year, $46 million contract extension by the Panthers. 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. 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.

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 and a younger brother, Hannes.

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs Regular season Playoffs Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM 2011–12 Linköpings HC J18 9 3 0 3 0 — — — — — 2011–12 Linköpings HC J18 Allsv 18 2 3 5 10 3 0 1 1 0 2012–13 Linköpings HC J18 14 2 6 8 10 — — — — — 2012–13 Linköpings HC J18 Allsv 17 5 2 7 10 2 0 0 0 0 2012–13 Linköpings HC J20 14 0 1 1 8 1 0 0 0 0 2013–14 Linköpings HC J18 2 1 2 3 0 — — — — — 2013–14 Linköpings HC J18 Allsv 3 2 1 3 2 5 1 0 1 0 2013–14 Linköpings HC J20 44 6 12 18 36 2 1 3 4 2 2014–15 Linköpings HC SHL 38 3 3 6 8 — — — — — 2015–16 Linköpings HC SHL 48 6 15 21 4 6 1 2 3 4 2016–17 Chicago Blackhawks NHL 38 2 3 5 4 — — — — — 2016–17 Rockford IceHogs AHL 30 1 7 8 12 — — — — — 2017–18 Chicago Blackhawks NHL 41 3 10 13 8 — — — — — 2017–18 Rockford IceHogs AHL 18 2 3 5 6 13 1 4 5 6 2018–19 Rockford IceHogs AHL 5 0 2 2 2 — — — — — 2018–19 Chicago Blackhawks NHL 43 3 6 9 30 — — — — — 2019–20 Charlotte Checkers AHL 57 8 18 26 30 — — — — — 2020–21 Florida Panthers NHL 43 5 12 17 8 6 1 1 2 0 2021–22 Florida Panthers NHL 71 10 27 37 18 10 0 3 3 4 2022–23 Florida Panthers NHL 82 13 28 41 40 21 2 6 8 10 2023–24 Florida Panthers NHL 79 10 29 39 43 24 4 9 13 12 2024–25 Florida Panthers NHL 80 11 20 31 16 23 1 4 5 8 2025–26 Florida Panthers NHL 80 2 26 28 51 — — — — —SHL totals 86 9 18 27 12 6 1 2 3 4NHL totals 557 59 161 220 218 84 8 23 31 34

International

Awards and honours Award Year RefNHL Stanley Cup champion 2024, 2025