The Florida Panthers have secured their blueline for the foreseeable future. Defenceman Gustav Forsling re-signs an eight-year extension with the club. The General Manager Bill Zito made the announcement. They also signed Jonah Gadjovich for two years as well.
#FlaPanthers GM Bill Zito just told reporters Gustav Forsling has signed an 8-year extension. Jonah Gadjovich gets a two-year deal as well. #TimeToHunt
— NHL News (@PuckReportNHL) March 7, 2024
Gustav Forsling Defenceman Re-Signs an Extension to Stay With the Florida Panthers
The product of Linkoping, Sweden, Gustav Forsling has really come into his own as he re-signs with the Florida Panthers. He has played seven NHL seasons to this point and has been improving steadily. Back in 2020-21, he had a career-high of 37 points. Then in 2022-23, he established himself as a reliable top-four defenceman on a competitive Florida Panthers team. In addition, he set a new career-high with 41 points, appearing in all 82 games for the first time. Last year, he was sitting at 23:26 of average ice time. Forsling looks to be very comfortable at home in Sunrise, and this contract ensures he stays for a while.
This year Forsling has played quite well with 31 points in 63 games. Furthermore, he plays nearly 22 minutes a night often in defensive situations. This makes his offence all the more impressive. He spends a lot of time killing penalties and has a dSZ% of nearly 60%.
What Does This Mean for the Panthers
If a Cinderella run to the Stanley Cup finals for the Florida Panthers, they came into the 2023-24 season as contenders. However, they have been challenged by the fact that Aaron Ekblad and Brandon Montour both missed significant time with injury. All the more reason was Forsling has been so reliable. There is tremendous value in locking up key assets when available. The current leaders of the Atlantic Division, Florida is really going to be tough come playoffs. Giving its players some extra confidence, like this contract for Forsling, will only help with that.
Main photo: Dan Hamilton-USA TODAY Sports
