Preds’ Forsberg using playoffs as launching pad
It’s difficult not to feel sympathy for those who try to get in Filip Forsberg’s way.
The Predators forward has developed a reputation for pretzeling hapless defenders, triggering frenzies of eyeball emojis and reaction GIFs on social media.
“The guy’s a special player,” Predators forward Scott Hartnell said. “He can do things with the puck that I can only dream of.”
Forsberg’s not much for self-praise, shrugging off questions about his exploits with cool indifference. We’ve come to expect such artistry from Forsberg, but in discussions of the NHL’s top players, he’s an afterthought.
What will it take for him to earn that Jets lead series 1-0 (CNBC)
Game 2: Sunday at Nashville, 6 p.m. (NBC SN) Game 3: Tuesday at Winnipeg, 7 p.m. Game 4: Thursday at Winnipeg, 8:30 p.m. (NBC SN)
Winnipeg 4, Nashville 1
Game 5 (if necessary): May 5 at Nashville, TBD Game 6 (if necessary): May 7 at Winnipeg, TBD Game 7 (if necessary): May 10 at Nashville, TBD
recognition?
“He’s there already,” Hartnell said. “I can tell you that much just from playing with him this year. Did he have 100 points and (was he) in the running (for) some of the big awards? Probably not, but he will be, for sure.
“I think until he gets maybe a breakout season where he gets 80, 90 points, people will be like, ‘Oh, who’s this Forsberg guy?’ But people have known it since Day 1 since he’s been here.” What makes a star in the NHL? It depends on how you define “star.” If a player’s star power is measured by his marketability, then Forsberg wouldn’t meet the requirements. He isn’t among the NHL’s most visible faces. On the league’s list of top-selling jerseys this season, Forsberg placed 80th.
Star players also drive ratings. The Predators enjoyed the biggest year-toyear increase in local viewership among U.S. teams (163 percent, according to SportsBusiness Journal) and national television appearances (one to eight, according to NBC Sports). But those spikes can’t directly be attributed to Forsberg.
The Predators’ run of success over the past few years, of which Forsberg has been an essential part, has helped to increase his and the team’s visibility.
“I think that the excuse of maybe Nashville not being a predominantly big market is out the window now,” Predators defenseman P.K. Subban said. “I think we’ve been getting a lot of attention with our hockey club. I think that’s going to help him in that department of exposure.”
Based on performance, Forsberg unquestionably belongs in the conversation of the sport’s brightest young stars.
Through his first four NHL seasons, Forsberg’s 116 goals and 249 points are tied for 13th and 25th, respectively. His five hat tricks since 2014-15 are outdone by only Washington Capitals captain Alex Ovechkin, considered the greatest goal-scorer of this generation. Five players have scored more playoff goals than Forsberg’s 19 during that span.
“I think he’s emerging on my list,” said NBC Sports analyst Eddie Olczyk, who also is a member of the Chicago Blackhawks broadcast team. “That consistency in doing it for a good stretch of time. He’s obviously got incredible skill level, has the courage to be able to try to make those plays that most guys sit there and go, ‘Eh, you know, I’ll just try that in practice. I’m not going to try that in a game, let alone a playoff game.’
“You need difference makers. You have to have difference makers. And he certainly looks to be a guy that is able to be that guy. And that’s what superstars are.” Winning changes all Of course, there is one sure-fire way for Forsberg to raise his profile.
A Stanley Cup victory would do wonders for his career.
The Predators, who trail the Winnipeg Jets in their second-round series after a Game 1 loss Friday, can’t do it without him.
“I think to be recognized as a superstar in this league, you have to win,” Predators center Ryan Johansen said. “We look at guys like (Chicago’s Jonathan) Toews, (Pittsburgh’s Sidney) Crosby, (Anaheim’s Ryan) Getzlaf and (Los Angeles’ Anze) Kopitar as, for me anyway as a (center), the top in the league. If you want to be in the same category as those guys, you need to win. You need to find a way to win.
“I think that goes the same for guys like (Lightning forward Nikita) Kucherov and (Flyers captain Claude) Giroux. Yeah, they had unbelievable seasons, but they’re not really in that class of the best because they haven’t won yet.
“I know for Fil, and speaking for him, I’m sure, and everyone in this room, we want to be in that category as winners and be recognized as the elite players. Fil’s a man on a mission. He’s been a man on a mission for a while. We need him to continue doing his thing.”
Reach Adam Vingan at avingan@tennessean.com and on Twitter @AdamVingan.