Goaltender Anton Forsberg entered this season with pressure of needing to earn trust back from the Ottawa Senators. With being on an expiring contract this season, it helped Forsberg become a trade bait piece at 31 years old.
Forsberg started the season off poorly by getting pulled in his first start on Oct. 14 against the Los Angeles Kings. Concern surrounding Forsberg immediately grew after his poor first start. Since that poor start, Forsberg has shown promise.
At times this season, Forsberg has been better than Linus Ullmark in between the pipes, especially when Ullmark allowed in five goals in four of the first 10 games he started. However, concern on Forsberg is back, but trade value could still be there for Forsberg after recent trades by the Colorado Avalanche.
Colorado's two recent trades for goaltenders could help Forsberg have some trade value for Ottawa
The Avalanche have struggled with goaltending this entire season. To try and help solve goaltending issues, the Avalanche made a trade with the Nashville Predators to acquire Scott Wedgewood on Nov. 30. Yesterday, the Avalanche traded for Mackenzie Blackwood from the San Jose Sharks.
At the time of the Avalanche-Predators trade, Wedgewood had a 3.62 goals against average and .878 save percentage. The Avalanche sent goaltender Justus Annunen and a 2025 sixth-round draft pick to get Wedgewood. Annunen had a 3.23 goals against average and .872 save percentage with the Avalanche before he was traded.
At the time of the Avalanche-Sharks trade, Blackwood had a 3.00 goals against average and .911 save percentage. The Avalanche sent goaltender Alexandar Georgiev, forward Nikolai Kovalenko, a conditional second-round draft pick in 2025 and a 2026 second-round pick to get Blackwood, forward Givani Smith and a 2027 fifth-round draft pick. Georgiev had a 3.38 goals against average and .874 save percentage with the Avalanche before he was traded.
Both trades had one thing in common when it came to the Avalanche getting a new goaltender: the Avalanche traded at least one draft pick. This season, Forsberg is 4-6-0 with a 2.95 goals against average and .889 save percentage. Forsberg has also posted two shutouts.
However, with the stats Wedgewood and Blackwood had at the time they were traded, it can put the Senators in a tough position with Forsberg. With Colorado needing to trade at least one draft pick and goaltender to receive a new goaltender, the Senators could have an idea of trading Forsberg along with a draft pick or two to get a new goaltender if they continue to not be impressed with Forsberg.
When the Senators fell 4-2 on Sunday against the New York Islanders, Forsberg disappointed when he got the start in goal. Forsberg allowed in three goals on 12 shots on goal.
Forsberg has shown flashes of being a reliable backup, but has shown inconsistency as well. If Forsberg continues to disappoint, the idea of trading Forsberg could be in the works for the Senators. Having a reliable backup to Ullmark is critical to help get Ullmark rest.