As the 2024-25 season arrived, goaltender Anton Forsberg needed to earn trust back for the Ottawa Senators. For being Linus Ullmark's backup, Forsberg's stats were steady for a backup. Forsberg finished the season with an 11-12-3 record with a 2.72 goals against average and .901 save percentage in 30 games played.
However, inconsistency issues were still there for the 32-year-old. Forsberg allowed in three goals in 18 of his 27 starts. Seven of Forsberg's starts saw him allow in four goals or more.
With inconsistency issues, it was unsure what Forsberg's future would look like in Ottawa with being an unrestricted free agent. Forsberg was one of two goaltenders who recorded a save percentage of .900 or better that was a UFA this Summer. Now, Forsberg is off to the West Coast.
Forsberg leaves Senators to sign with Kings
After losing David Rittich to the New York Islanders, the Los Angeles Kings were in need of finding a new goaltender. To do that, the Kings signed Forsberg to a two-year contract at $2.25 million per year.
The Kings have also signed Anton Forsberg to a two-year $2.25M AAV contract, per @frank_seravalli
— B/R Open Ice (@BR_OpenIce) July 1, 2025
Busy day in Los Angeles 💰 pic.twitter.com/b408uV2Fxz
Yesterday, the Senators re-signed 22-year-old goaltender Leevi Merilainen to a one-year contract. Merilainen's 12-game NHL surge in 2024-25 during the Winter helped the Senators make the 2025 playoffs. Merilainen also had a solid season in the AHL with the Belleville Senators to heat things up to be Ullmark's backup down the road.
In his Ottawa career, Forsberg went 62-56-10 with a 2.99 goals against average and .905 save percentage in 142 games with 132 of them being starts.
With Forsberg gone, the Senators can pursue another backup or trust Merilainen's growth and have him be the full-time backup for Ullmark.