Christmas in June: Filip Forsberg

Written by JHabs, AllHabs.net

MONTREAL, QC. — What makes a good NHL player great? Is it his drive, passion and hunger to be the best? Or is it his consistency, and leadership? Filip Forsberg possess all these intangibles that are both rare and highly sought after, and perhaps one day, these qualities will help him to be a great player in the NHL.

Dominant is a word you will often hear when conversing about Forsberg. He is being touted as the “next big thing” to come out of Sweden, and with good reason as he has made a name for himself at every level of competition. Forsberg (no relation to former Swedish superstar Peter Forsberg), was born in Ostervala, Sweden, and  has been soaring through the draft ranks, currently projected to be chosen in the top five.

Forsberg has been referred to as a power forward, due to his six foot two, one hundred and eighty pound frame. However with the way he plays the game it’s been suggested by few scouts that he plays more of a complete style, and is more of a two-way forward who loves to initiate contact.

The young Swede takes pride in his offensive game — he said in an interview with Hockey’s Future “I think my greatest strength is my offense – I have great shots, and I also can play the puck to my teammates.”

Forsberg is a team-first player, and will do what it takes to win, whether it’s unleashing his ferocious shot, or attempting to get the puck to his teammates. Forsberg also has the ability to reach his top speed with haste, making him an ideal puck carrier to blaze by defenders. He has also seen time killing penalties both in the Ivan Hlinka U18 tournament, and on his team Allsvenskan, of the Swedish Elite League.

Many scouts rave about Forsberg’s energy level and consistency.  Some people criticize him for not producing many points in the Swedish Elite League but it should be noted that Forsberg is seventeen years of age, playing in a men’s league.  It’s an impressive feat that often goes unmentioned.

Forsberg’s game does not come without its concerns — he will have to become more aware of his teammates, as he will often shoot, when the passing option was the smarter decision. Forsberg will also have to fill out his frame, putting on muscle to make him much more effective for his crash and bang style of play.  While Forsberg’s skills are all of above average quality, it is the popular belief of many scouts that he does not possess a skill that can be considered “elite.” The young Swede still has room for significant improvement, but he has the work ethic necessary to excel.

Forsberg is a young man with a very bright future, possessing all the tools to reach NHL stardom, and while many scouts are not convinced that he has the necessary skills to become a superstar, it can be said that if the player has the drive, passion and hunger to be the best, he can develop to be one of the most dangerous and effective players in the NHL.