In October 2020, the Ottawa Senators signed goaltender Anton Forsberg off of waivers. It wouldn't be until the 2021-22 season when Forsberg posted the best season of his career with earning 22 wins, and finishing with a 2.82 goals against average and .917 save percentage.
Forsberg appeared to be the potential goaltender of the future, but he didn't deliver like he did in 2021-22 over the next three seasons. Eleven days ago, Forsberg signed a two-year contract with the Los Angeles Kings.
Forsberg's legacy as a Senators goaltender could be a questionable one despite being in the top 10 in goaltending categories in Senators history. In the end, Forsberg didn't perform as a number one goaltender as the Senators had hoped for. Now, the Kings may have fallen into the trap of Forsberg.
Inconsistency from Forsberg is now Kings' issues
In the 2024-25 season, Forsberg's stats may have shown he was a capable backup goaltender when needed. Forsberg finished with an 11-12-3 record with a 2.72 goals against average and .901 save percentage.
While Forsberg's numbers for a backup were steady and he had a few bright moments for the Senators in 2024-25, inconsistency was an issue the Senators faced with the 32-year-old goaltender. Now, the Kings have to face it because Forsberg can get hot in goal over a stretch, but then get cold.
Three goals were allowed in by Forsberg in 18 of his 27 starts in the 2024-25 season. In seven of his starts, Forsberg allowed in four goals or more.
After winning four out of a possible five starts from Jan. 19-Feb. 3, Forsberg then allowed in four goals in a 5-1 loss to the Tampa Bay Lightning on Feb. 6. Forsberg also had a hot two-game stretch in the Spring when he went 1-0-1 with one goal allowed in over 120 minutes of play, but then allowed in five goals the next start in a 5-2 loss to the Columbus Blue Jackets on April 8.
Forsberg's last game in Ottawa was a brutal one. In a 4-3 overtime loss to the Chicago Blackhawks on April 15, Forsberg allowed in four goals on 16 shots on goal. Forsberg allowed in 12 combined goals in his final three starts of the 2024-25 season, and lost two of the three starts.
Prior to Forsberg leaving, Ottawa re-signed 22-year-old goaltender Leevi Merilainen to a one-year contract. Merilainen had an incredible 12-game NHL surge that helped the Senators make the 2025 playoffs. Merilainen's play and Forsberg's inconsistencies may have impacted the Senators on which goaltender to re-sign and not re-sign.
The Kings lost goaltender David Rittich this Summer. Now, Forsberg is the guy to be the backup to Darcy Kuemper.
Although the stats for a backup may look solid, the inconsistency struggles from Forsberg is something that the Kings have to deal with. The Senators will rely on Merilainen to raise his game more as Linus Ullmark