When the Nashville Predators acquired prospect Filip Forsberg from the Washington Capitals in April 2013 in exchange for Martin Erat and Michael Latta, the hope was that he could play a valuable role on a team lacking when it came to top-end skilled forwards. It’s taken some time, but Forsberg is starting to look like he can be that guy.
He’s certainly gotten off to a strong start with three assists in two contests and while that’s an obviously small sample size, the 20-year-old’s outburst hasn’t come out of nowhere.
“He’s been really consistent since rookie camp started,” Predators coach Peter Laviolette told the Nashville Post. “I thought he was a top player every game in rookie camp. He was a real positive offensive player for us in the exhibition season and, really, I think that has just continued.
“He appears to be strong in those battles. He’s got a tremendous awareness about him and an ability to find time and space and make plays. … He’s been consistent with his offense and his two-way play and his offense since he got here at rookie camp.”
All the same, the big question now how Forsberg will respond to a full campaign. He’s certainly been a big part of the Predators’ early success and to some extent, the team’s fortunes this season will likely be tied to him.
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Filip Forsberg has scored two thirds of the Preds’ preseason goals