It was rumored earlier this spring that the Chicago Blackhawks were looking to bring Swedish defenseman Gustav Forsling, acquired by the team in their deal with the Vancouver Canucks for Adam Clendening, to North America next season.
Now, the team has made it official.
The Blackhawks confirmed on Wednesday that Forsling has inked a three year entry-level deal with the Central Division club, which will enable the team to bring him over for the start of the 2016-17 season.
Drafted 126th overall by the Vancouver Canucks in 2014, Forsling – a native of Linkoping, Sweden – is coming off his second season with the Linkoping HC pro club in Sweden’s top hockey league. He posted impressive stats during the year, boasting six goals and 21 points in 48 regular season games; if he can translate that success to North America, he’s a possibility to see at the NHL level next year.
With Forsling signed, the Blackhawks could have their blue line for the 2016-17 season all but squared away.
The team already has top names like Brent Seabrook, Duncan Keith, and Niklas Hjalmarsson inked to long-term deals with the club, and prospects like Trevor van Riemsdyk, Erik Gustafsson, and Viktor Svedberg all have deals to carry them at least through next year. With the addition of Forsling, that’s seven blue liners – and while four young defensemen may not be ideal for the club, their cap situation may dictate that as their only option next year.
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