Anton Forsberg Bio
Anton Forsberg, born on 27 November 1992 in Härnösand, Sweden, is a Swedish professional ice hockey goaltender currently playing for the Los Angeles Kings of the National Hockey League (NHL). Standing 6 feet 3 inches tall and weighing 192 pounds, Forsberg plays the goaltender position and catches left. He was selected by the Columbus Blue Jackets in the seventh round, 188th overall, of the 2011 NHL Entry Draft. Over the course of his career, Forsberg has represented several NHL franchises and won a Calder Cup championship in the American Hockey League (AHL).
Known for his resilience and journeyman career, Forsberg has competed in Sweden, the AHL, and the NHL. He began his professional career in 2008 and has since built a reputation as a reliable backup and occasional starter. His path through multiple organizations reflects both the challenges and opportunities that come with being a depth goaltender in professional hockey.
Early Life and Background
Anton Forsberg was born and raised in Härnösand, a coastal town in central Sweden. Growing up in a country where ice hockey is a national passion, Forsberg was exposed to the sport from an early age. His father is a trainer and chiropractor who works with a professional ice hockey team in Sweden, which gave Anton a direct connection to the game’s professional side. This family link to hockey likely played a role in shaping his early interest and development as a goaltender.
Forsberg came through the youth ranks of Modo Hockey, one of Sweden’s prominent hockey development clubs. His progression through Modo’s system prepared him for the demands of senior-level competition. The training environment at Modo, combined with his family’s background in the sport, helped him build the technical and mental skills required to play goaltender at an elite level.
Path to Hockey
Forsberg’s journey toward professional hockey moved forward when he made his senior debut with Modo Hockey in the Swedish Hockey League’s top tier, Elitserien, during the 2011–12 season. That same year, his performances caught the attention of NHL scouts, and he was selected 188th overall by the Columbus Blue Jackets in the 2011 NHL Entry Draft. Being drafted in the seventh round meant he had to prove himself further at every level to earn a place in professional hockey.
In the year following his draft, Forsberg was selected to represent Team Sweden at the 2012 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships. This international experience provided valuable exposure against top junior talent from around the world. It also marked an important step in his development as he transitioned from European hockey toward the North American professional game.
Anton Forsberg Career
Early Career (2008–2013)
Forsberg began his playing career in 2008 within the Modo Hockey organization in Sweden. He spent his formative years developing in the Swedish junior system before earning his first senior appearances with Modo in the Elitserien. These early years were crucial for building the foundation of his technical style and competitive mindset.
His draft selection by the Columbus Blue Jackets in 2011 signaled that NHL organizations saw long-term potential in his game. After completing his 2013–14 SHL season, Forsberg signed a three-year entry-level contract with the Blue Jackets on 28 May 2013, formally beginning his North American professional career.
Columbus Blue Jackets Era (2013–2017)
Following his contract with Columbus, Forsberg was assigned to the Springfield Falcons of the AHL. He played his first professional game in North America on 1 April 2014, stopping 25 of 26 shots in a 3–1 win over the Bridgeport Sound Tigers. During the 2014–15 AHL season, he helped the Falcons set a franchise record of 11 consecutive wins while playing in 10 of those games. His strong play earned him an NHL debut on 1 November 2014 against the New Jersey Devils at the Prudential Center.
In his second North American season, Forsberg moved to the Lake Erie Monsters, Columbus’s new AHL affiliate. He helped lead the team to the 2016 Calder Cup playoffs, where the Monsters won their first Calder Cup championship in franchise history. Forsberg went undefeated across all nine of his playoff starts that year. After being recalled to the NHL on an emergency basis, he recorded his first career NHL win and became the first goaltender to win an NHL game after entering play post-regulation. On 17 June 2016, he signed a one-year contract extension to remain with the Blue Jackets organization.
Chicago Blackhawks Era (2017–2019)
On 23 June 2017, Forsberg was traded by the Blue Jackets, along with Brandon Saad and a fifth-round pick in 2018, to the Chicago Blackhawks in exchange for Artemi Panarin, Tyler Motte, and a sixth-round pick in 2017. Three days later, on 26 June 2017, he signed a two-year contract with the Blackhawks. During his time in Chicago, Forsberg served primarily as a depth goaltender within the organization.
His tenure with the Blackhawks ended on 24 June 2019, when he was traded, along with Gustav Forsling, to the Carolina Hurricanes in exchange for Calvin de Haan and Aleksi Saarela.
Carolina Hurricanes and Journeyman Season (2020–2021)
After his time with Carolina, Forsberg signed a one-year, $700,000 contract with the Edmonton Oilers as a free agent on 9 October 2020. Prior to the 2020–21 season, he was waived by the Oilers and claimed by the Hurricanes on 12 January 2021. After being returned to waivers once the Hurricanes’ goaltending situation stabilized, he was claimed by the Winnipeg Jets on 16 January 2021.
Forsberg spent two months on the Jets roster without playing, and on 17 March 2021, he was claimed off waivers by the Ottawa Senators. He played one game for Ottawa’s AHL affiliate, the Belleville Senators, before being recalled to the NHL club. He made his Ottawa debut on 22 March in a backup role and started on 25 March. On 5 May 2021, he signed a one-year contract extension with the Senators.
Ottawa Senators Era (2021–2025)
Forsberg began the 2021–22 season as the backup to Matt Murray in Ottawa. Murray’s struggles and injuries gave Forsberg an opportunity to take on a larger role, and he appeared in 46 games for the Senators that year. On 21 March 2022, Ottawa signed him to a three-year, $8.25 million contract extension. During the 2022–23 season, Forsberg suffered a serious injury on 11 February 2023 against the Edmonton Oilers, tearing the medial collateral ligament in both knees in a collision with teammate Travis Hamonic and the Oilers’ Zach Hyman. He was stretchered off the ice and missed the remainder of the season.
Forsberg recovered well enough to play in the first preseason game of the 2023–24 NHL season and continued to serve as a backup goaltender over the following two seasons, playing 30 games each year behind Joonas Korpisalo and then Linus Ullmark. After five seasons with the Senators, he was not offered a new contract.
Los Angeles Kings Era (2025–Present)
On 1 July 2025, Forsberg signed a two-year, $4.5 million contract with the Los Angeles Kings as a free agent. In his first appearance against his former team, the Senators, he recorded a shutout in a 1–0 win in Ottawa. Ahead of the Kings’ first-round matchup against the Colorado Avalanche in the 2026 Stanley Cup playoffs, Forsberg was selected to start over Darcy Kuemper, who had struggled with inconsistency late in the regular season. He made his first career NHL playoff start, recording 30 saves in a 2–1 loss. Forsberg continued to play the rest of the series as the Kings were swept in four games by the Avalanche.
Driving Style and Strengths
As a left-catching goaltender, Forsberg relies on sound positional play and a calm presence in the net. His 6-foot-3 frame allows him to cover a large portion of the net, and he has shown the ability to bounce back from serious injuries, including his 2023 dual MCL tears. Throughout his career, he has built a reputation as a dependable backup who can step into starting duties when needed.
Notable Events and Milestones
Forsberg’s career highlights include his undefeated playoff run with the Lake Erie Monsters in 2016, his Calder Cup championship, and his history-making NHL win as the first goaltender to win after entering a game post-regulation. His recovery from a devastating two-knee injury in February 2023 to return for the next preseason remains one of the most dramatic comebacks of his career.
Anton Forsberg Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Forsberg’s family has a strong connection to professional ice hockey in Sweden. His father works as a trainer and chiropractor for a professional ice hockey team in Sweden, which provided Anton with early exposure to the demands and routines of the sport.
Personal Life
Forsberg is married and has two children. He remains a native of Härnösand, the town where he was born and raised.
2025 Season Performance
Forsberg’s 2025 season marked a new chapter in his career after signing with the Los Angeles Kings on 1 July 2025. Joining a Western Conference contender, he stepped into a depth role behind Darcy Kuemper and provided steady play when called upon. His early highlight came against his former club, when he delivered a 1–0 shutout win over the Ottawa Senators.
As the regular season progressed, Kuemper’s late-season inconsistency opened the door for Forsberg to take on a larger role heading into the 2026 Stanley Cup playoffs. Selected to start the first-round series against the Colorado Avalanche, Forsberg made his NHL playoff debut and recorded 30 saves in a narrow 2–1 loss. Although the Kings were swept in four games, Forsberg’s performance suggested he remained a capable option for the organization moving forward.
Looking ahead, Forsberg continues to be part of the Kings’ goaltending picture under the terms of his two-year contract. His experience, including championship-level play in the AHL and several seasons as an NHL backup, gives Los Angeles a reliable presence in net as the team builds toward future playoff runs.
