![]() ![]() That he wasn't thinking about that, and hinted he may just bet on himself and test the open market. The circumstances of Forsberg's contract status also remain unchanged from the preseason, when he said negotiations for a contract extension with the Predators had not yet begun. That, to me, is a little bit of bad luck or unfortunate circumstances." "Some of them have been (bad) breaks or head issues or things like that. "They're not things where you're nagging or pulls or strains or things that maybe could be preventable," Predators coach John Hynes said. The Swedish forward's best years so far in the NHL have been with the Predators, and he could soon be the undisputed fave of Nashville with guys like Matt Duchene and Roman Josi both on the wrong side of 30.View Gallery: Goaltender Pekka Rinne announces his retirement from the Predators According to Money Puck, two of the top three offensive lines (must have played together at least 75 minutes) that posted the best xGoals For last season featured Forsberg. There are concerns about regression on his part after he recorded an 18.6 shooting percentage last season (19th overall in the NHL), but the Predators still know what Forsberg could bring to the table.Īs mentioned earlier, he can be counted on to find the back of the net at least 20 times, notwithstanding the big jump in his individual production from what he posted in 2020-21 to the numbers he put up in 2021-22. He's already established himself as among the cornerstones of the franchise. Maybe, Forsberg is really destined to be a Predator for a very long time. It's not difficult to imagine someone like Forsberg flourishing in an established organization like Pittsburgh.ģ best Andrew Copp destinations in 2022 NHL free agency Forsberg is a constant threat to score 20+ goals per season and his best years could still be ahead of him. But even if they managed to retain Malkin, scoring depth beyond Crosby's line could remain an issue. Whatever happens, the Penguins still have Sidney Crosby, which is a great thing for the team. In any case, he is a top-six forward who should at least be blinking on the Penguins' radar. Then again, Forsberg can move around a bit and play on the wings to complement either Crosby or Malkin. Forsberg would also inject youth into the Penguins' roster that was fourth oldest in the league last season, according to Elite Prospects. If Pittsburgh ends up losing Malkin, Forsberg can be the answer to the center depth issue that the Penguins would have in such an event. Malkin is a pending unrestricted free agent, but at 35 years old, the Penguins must not be too keen on offering him a long-term contract. While the offensive talent around Forsberg in Nashville was considerably better than what the Islanders had, Forsberg should be able to add height to the ceiling of New York's offense.Īmong the biggest narratives this offseason for the Penguins is whether they will still have the services of veteran center Evgeni Malkin going forward. Meanwhile, Forsberg had 84 in the 2021-22 NHL campaign with the Predators on the strength of 42 goals and 42 assists. Brock Nelson and Mathew Barzal led the Islanders last season with each coming up with only 59 points. With Trotz gone, the Islanders are pressed to improve their attack and someone like Forsberg could be that guy to help cover the gaping hole on their offense. New York usually gets by with its mediocre offense because Barry Trotz was good enough to steer this team to playoff contention with elite defensive coaching. In fact, the Islanders were fifth-worst with a 46 CF% and just 24th in high-danger shots for percentage (46.4%) - both in 5-on-5 situations. ![]() The Isles were just 20th in the league with only 2.79 goals per contest, in part because they struggled big time in controlling possessions. New York's offense wasn't exactly the best out there during the 2021-22 NHL season. ![]() 3 best destinations for Filip Forsberg in 2022 NHL free agency Forsberg should command attention from different teams in need of a shot in the arm on offense, especially after he just put together his best season in the NHL, so far in his career. Forsberg has already expressed his interest in staying in Nashville, but nice words don't really amount that much during this time of the year in the NHL calendar. The forward is set to hit the free-agent market with the six-year extension deal he signed in 2016 $36 million with the Predators about to lapse. The Nashville Predators have a big decision to make in the 2022 NHL free agency, and it's one that involves a top player in the form of center Filip Forsberg. ![]()
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