Is it safe to say Filip Forsberg is playing the best hockey of his career right now?
He’s making it harder and harder to deny it.
Last night, Forsberg scored his 2nd overtime goal in as many games, capping off a dramatic come-from-behind victory for the Nashville Predators.
Three days earlier, Forsberg did the same, albeit in slightly different fashion. He found “some loose change” in the Flyers’ goal crease, picking a dribbling puck from under Samuel Errson’s pads to clinch the victory for the Preds in overtime.
So that’s two more shots on goal, two more pucks in the net, and two more wins for the Nashville Predators.
Add those goals to Forsberg’s season total and you get 16 goals in 30 games for the Preds’ Swedish star. That’s just over half a goal every game, just behind his pace from 2021-22.
It’s important to remember just how good Forsberg’s 2021-22 season really was. That year, he put up 42 goals and 42 assists in only 69 games. It deserves recognition as one of the franchise’s best individual seasons ever.
But for a couple of reasons, Forsberg is on pace to out-perform his 2021-22 year.
For one, Forsberg is not fattening his stats with power play numbers just yet. He only has two power play goals so far, and his even strength goals rank 2nd in the NHL right now.
Forsberg is producing like crazy at even strength. But when he starts producing just as much on the power play?
Look out.
The other reason Forsberg is on pace to break records is his health.
In 2021-22, Forsberg suffered a couple of injuries that prevented him from playing a full 82 game season. He also missed time last season with a concussion.
But this year, Forsberg has rolled through the first 30 games at full health. Watching him on the ice, he looks as physical as ever. His skill with the puck has never been better, and he’s playing with a confidence level rarely seen.
Who else in the league would even try a hand-pass to themselves from behind the opponent’s net? And who else could actually pull it off?
Right now, Filip Forsberg is on pace for a 44 goal, 51 assist season. If he maintains his current pace, he would break the Predators’ single season goal scoring record of 43, set by Matt Duchene in 2021-22. And he would come close to Roman Josi’s single season point record of 96, set in the same season.
If he stays healthy, based on how he’s playing right now, Forsberg might break both records by a wide margin.
— Featured image via Ethan Cairns/Icon Sportswire —
