Filip Forsberg facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Filip Forsberg
Forsberg with the Nashville Predators in November 2023
Born	(1994-08-13) 13 August 1994 (age 31) Östervåla, Sweden
Height	185 cm (6 ft 1 in)
Weight	93 kg (205 lb; 14 st 9 lb)
Position	Left wing
Shoots	Right
NHL team	Nashville Predators
National team	Sweden
NHL Draft	11th overall, 2012 Washington Capitals
Playing career	2012–present

Carl Filip Anton Forsberg (born August 13, 1994), often called "Fil," is a professional ice hockey player from Sweden. He is an alternate captain for the Nashville Predators in the National Hockey League (NHL). Forsberg was picked by the Washington Capitals in the first round of the 2012 NHL Entry Draft. He was the 11th player chosen overall. However, he was traded to the Predators before he ever played a game for the Capitals.

Filip Forsberg has played for his home country, Sweden, in many international tournaments. He has won five silver medals and two gold medals while representing Sweden.

Playing career

Swedish career

Filip Forsberg showed great skill at the 2011 Ivan Hlinka Memorial Tournament and the 2012 IIHF World U18 Championships. In both tournaments, he helped Sweden win silver medals. At the World U18 Championships, he was also named the Best Forward.

Experts who rank young players for the 2012 NHL entry draft thought Forsberg was the best European forward available. The Washington Capitals picked him 11th overall. He signed his first professional contract with them on July 13, 2012.

Forsberg then went back to play for his old club, Leksands IF, in Sweden for the 2012–13 season. He had his best season yet, scoring 33 points in 38 games. This helped Leksand get promoted to the top Swedish league, the Swedish Hockey League (SHL).

Nashville Predators

Early years and development (2013–2015)

On April 3, 2013, Forsberg was traded to the Nashville Predators. This trade happened before he even played for the Capitals. He later said this trade surprised him because it's rare for a team to trade a top draft pick so early.

After his season in Sweden ended, Forsberg joined the Predators in Tennessee. He made his NHL debut on April 14, 2013, against the Detroit Red Wings. He was 18 years old, making him one of the youngest players to ever play for the Predators. He got his first NHL point on April 24, 2013, by assisting on a goal. He was then sent to the Predators' minor league team, the Milwaukee Admirals, for one game. This was to make sure he didn't play too many NHL games that season, which would have used up a year of his first contract.

Forsberg scored his first NHL goal on October 8, 2013, against the Minnesota Wild. He played 11 games with the Predators before being sent back to the Admirals in November for more playing time. He was called back up to the NHL but got injured. After recovering, he was loaned to Team Sweden for the 2014 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships. He was named the tournament's Most Valuable Player (MVP) after helping Sweden win a silver medal and scoring 12 points. He finished the 2013–14 season with 5 points in 13 NHL games and 34 points in 47 AHL games.

Because he played so few NHL games, Forsberg was still considered a "rookie" for the 2014–15 season. He started the season strong, playing on the Predators' second line. By mid-October, he had five points. His good play quickly earned him a spot on the Predators' top line with James Neal and Mike Ribeiro.

Forsberg led all NHL rookies in scoring. He also set a new team record for rookies with a seven-game point streak. He was named the NHL's Rookie of the Month for November. He continued to lead all rookies in goals, assists, and points through December and January. Forsberg broke more team rookie records for points and assists. He was chosen to play in the 2015 National Hockey League All-Star Game, becoming the first Predators player to score a goal in an NHL All-Star Game.

In February, Forsberg broke another team record for most goals by a rookie. He finished the regular season with 26 goals and 37 assists. He was one of only two Predators players to reach 60 points that season.

Forsberg made his playoff debut in Game 1 of the Western Conference first round against the Chicago Blackhawks. He scored his first playoff goal in Game 3. He became the youngest Predators player to score a playoff goal. Later, he scored his first playoff hat-trick (three goals in one game). This was also the first hat-trick in Predators playoff history. Even with his great efforts, the Predators lost the series. Forsberg was named to the 2014-15 NHL All-Rookie Team.

Setting records and finding playoff success (2015–2019)

Forsberg started the 2015–16 season slowly, but he found his scoring touch by late December. He scored 13 goals in 21 games through January and February. He set several team records and was named the NHL's First Star of the Week. On February 23, he became the youngest player in team history to score a regular-season hat-trick. Two days later, he scored another hat-trick, making him the first Predators player to have multiple hat-tricks in one season. His 12 goals in February set a new team record for goals in a single month.

Forsberg finished the regular season leading the team with 33 goals and 64 points. His 33 goals tied a team record for most goals in a season. The Predators made it to the 2016 Stanley Cup playoffs. Forsberg scored only two goals in 14 playoff games. It was later found out he was playing with a back injury. Before he could become a free agent, Forsberg signed a six-year contract worth $36 million to stay with Nashville.

In the 2016 offseason, Forsberg played for Team Sweden at the 2016 World Cup of Hockey. For the 2016–17 season, he mostly played on the top line with Ryan Johansen and Viktor Arvidsson. This group was called the "JoFA line." Forsberg started the season with many assists but few goals. However, his scoring picked up by December. In February 2017, Forsberg scored back-to-back hat-tricks against the Calgary Flames and the Colorado Avalanche. This made him the first Predators player and the first NHL player in over seven years to do this. He also tied a team record for most career hat-tricks. He was named the NHL's First Star of the Week and Second Star of February. Forsberg continued to score, setting a new team record with 10 goals in five games in March. He finished the season tied for the team lead with 31 goals. He was the first player in team history to score 30 or more goals in two seasons in a row.

During the 2017 Stanley Cup playoffs, the "JoFA line" played a big role. Forsberg scored two goals in Game 3 against the Chicago Blackhawks. He had two goals and three assists as the Predators swept the Blackhawks in four games. The "JoFA line" struggled in the next round against the St. Louis Blues. However, the Predators still won and reached the Western Conference Final for the first time. Forsberg scored goals in four games in a row against the Anaheim Ducks. An injury to Johansen in Game 5 split up the "JoFA line." Forsberg then played with Colton Sissons and Pontus Aberg. He scored an empty-net goal in Game 6, becoming the team's all-time leader in playoff goals. This goal helped the Predators win the series and reach the 2017 Stanley Cup Finals for the first time. Forsberg finished the playoffs with nine goals and seven assists for 16 points.

Forsberg with the Predators skating against Devante Smith-Pelly in an April 2018 game.

Before the 2017–18 season, Forsberg was one of the players the Predators protected from the 2017 NHL expansion draft. In September 2017, Forsberg was named an alternate captain. He quickly became the first Predators player to reach double-digit points that season. On November 14, he scored his 100th career NHL goal. He led the Predators in scoring until he got an upper-body injury on December 29. He missed a month but scored two points in his return on February 1, 2018. He was later suspended for three games for a hit on another player. After returning, he became the second player in team history to score on a penalty shot in overtime. He continued to play well, helping the Predators make the playoffs again. On April 1, he helped the Predators set a new team record with their 51st win of the season. Forsberg scored his fifth career hat-trick in the final game of the regular season, finishing with a team-leading 64 points.

The Predators finished first in their division and played the Colorado Avalanche in the playoffs. Forsberg scored two goals in Game 1 and two more in Games 4 and 6. He had three goals and six assists in the next series against the Winnipeg Jets. Even though he played well, the Predators did not make it to the Western Conference Final. After the playoffs, Forsberg played for Team Sweden at the 2018 IIHF World Championship.

Forsberg started the 2018–19 season with his usual linemates, Ryan Johansen and Viktor Arvidsson. Their line combined for 28 points in the first nine games. On October 27, Forsberg scored his sixth regular-season hat-trick. He also set a new team record for most goals in a single month. He got injured on November 29, 2018, and missed 17 games. When he returned on January 7, 2019, he was placed on the third line to ease him back into play. He quickly returned to the first line. On March 16, Forsberg recorded his 300th career NHL point. He finished the regular season with 60 points. The Predators made the 2019 Stanley Cup playoffs, but Forsberg's line was not as productive. He finished with one goal and one assist in six games.

COVID-19 and playoff struggles (2019-present)

For the 2019–20 season, the Predators changed their top lines. Forsberg started on the second line with Matt Duchene and Mikael Granlund. He became the first player in team history to score a goal in the first four games of the season. He also tied a team record with six points in the first six games. However, he then missed six games due to a lower-body injury. The Predators struggled in the first half of the season. In January, Forsberg became the second player in NHL history to score a "Michigan goal" (a special goal where the player lifts the puck on their stick and throws it into the net). On March 5, Forsberg ended a 16-game scoring drought. A few games later, he scored his 20th and 21st goals of the season. This made him the first player in team history to have six seasons in a row with 20 or more goals. The league paused the season due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Forsberg had 21 goals and 27 assists at that time. When the NHL returned for the 2020 Stanley Cup playoffs, the Predators played in a special "bubble" in Edmonton. Forsberg's line played well, but the Predators did not advance in the playoffs.

In the 2021–22 season, Forsberg had a great year. On November 30, he tied a team record by scoring four goals in one game. These four goals also helped him reach 400 NHL points faster than any other player in team history. On January 8, 2022, Forsberg was placed on the COVID-19 list. He missed four games. On March 19, 2022, Forsberg became the Predators' all-time leading goal scorer, scoring his 211th goal. Three days later, he broke the team's single-season scoring record. He finished the regular season with career highs of 42 goals and 42 assists for 84 points in just 69 games.

As a free agent, Forsberg chose to stay with the Predators. He signed a big eight-year contract worth $68 million on July 9, 2022. On December 30, 2022, Forsberg played his 600th career NHL game. The next day, he scored a hat-trick, becoming the third player in team history to reach 500 points. However, he suffered a concussion on February 11, 2023, and missed the rest of the season.

On February 24, 2024, Forsberg passed David Legwand to become the Predators' all-time leading scorer. On April 13, 2024, he broke two more team records against the Chicago Blackhawks. He set a new team record for most goals in a single season with 46 goals. He also scored his 10th career hat-trick. His second goal of that game broke the team record for most multi-goal games in a season.

On October 13, 2024, Forsberg became the sixth player in team history to play 700 games for the Predators. In the 2024-25 season, Forsberg set more personal and team records. On January 16, 2025, he scored his 300th NHL goal. He was recognized as the NHL's Second Star of the Week for his great play. The next month, he became the seventh Swedish-born player in NHL history to have nine or more seasons with 20 goals. He also extended his lead among Swedish players for game-winning goals.

Personal life

Filip Forsberg was born to Carina Dahlberg and Patrik Forsberg. His full name is Carl Filip Anton Forsberg, but he is known as "Filip." His younger brother, Fredrik, also plays hockey. Filip and Fredrik are not related to the famous hockey player Peter Forsberg.

Outside of hockey, Forsberg is a fan of Liverpool FC, a soccer team. He also co-owns the Nashville SC soccer team in the Major League Soccer. He co-owns a female Italian racehorse named Trilly of Nando with another Swedish hockey player, Jacob de la Rose.

Forsberg married country music singer Erin Alvey in July 2022. They have one child together.

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

Medal record
Representing  Sweden
Ice hockey
World Championships
Gold	2018 Denmark
Bronze	2025 Sweden/Denmark
World Junior Championships
Gold	2012 Canada
Silver	2013 Russia
Silver	2014 Sweden
IIHF World U18 Championship
Silver	2011 Germany
Silver	2012 Czech Republic

International

Year	Team	Event	Result		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
2011	Sweden	U18			6	4	2	6	2
2011	Sweden	IH18			5	4	1	5	2
2012	Sweden	WJC			6	0	1	1	2
2012	Sweden	U18			6	5	2	7	6
2013	Sweden	WJC			6	3	2	5	0
2014	Sweden	WJC			7	4	8	12	2
2015	Sweden	WC	5th		8	8	1	9	10
2016	Sweden	WCH	3rd		4	1	1	2	0
2018	Sweden	WC			4	2	1	3	0
Junior totals					36	20	16	36	14
Senior totals					16	11	3	14	10

Awards