Anton Forsberg Bio
Anton Forsberg is a Swedish professional ice hockey goaltender currently playing for the Los Angeles Kings of the National Hockey League (NHL). Standing 191 centimeters tall and weighing 87 kilograms, Forsberg has built his career on steady positional play and mental toughness. He was selected by the Columbus Blue Jackets in the seventh round, 188th overall, of the 2011 NHL Entry Draft. Over more than a decade in professional hockey, he has represented multiple NHL franchises and has been recognized for his postseason composure, most notably during the 2016 Calder Cup run with the Lake Erie Monsters.
Early Life and Background
Anton Forsberg was born on 27 November 1992 in Härnösand, a coastal town in central Sweden. He grew up in a household connected to professional hockey, as his father works as a trainer and chiropractor for a professional ice hockey team in Sweden. This family environment provided early exposure to the demands of high-level training and athlete care, shaping Forsberg’s understanding of preparation and conditioning.
As a youth, Forsberg developed his game in the Swedish hockey system and joined the youth ranks of Modo Hockey. Modo, a club known for developing top Swedish talent, gave him a structured pathway from minor hockey into the senior ranks. His progression through the program reflected both his athletic build and his technical refinement as a goaltender.
Forsberg’s education outside of hockey is not publicly documented in detail, with his developmental years focused on the rink. By the time he reached draft age, his performances in Swedish junior leagues had positioned him as a legitimate NHL prospect despite being projected as a later-round selection.
Path to Hockey
Forsberg entered the professional ranks with Modo Hockey, making his senior debut in the Swedish Hockey League’s top tier, then known as Elitserien, during the 2011–12 season. That same year, he was chosen 188th overall by the Columbus Blue Jackets in the 2011 NHL Entry Draft. The selection marked the beginning of his transition from a promising Swedish junior to a tracked North American prospect.
In the year following his draft, Forsberg earned international recognition when he was selected to represent Team Sweden at the 2012 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships. Competing against the top under-20 talent in the world helped accelerate his development and exposed him to high-tempo, skilled offensive play that would later shape his NHL approach.
His performances in Sweden convinced the Blue Jackets organization that he was ready to turn professional in North America. On 28 May 2013, Columbus signed Forsberg to a three-year, entry-level contract, formally launching his path through the American Hockey League toward the NHL.
Anton Forsberg Career
Early Career (2013–2015)
After completing the 2013–14 SHL season, Forsberg was assigned to the Springfield Falcons of the American Hockey League. He played his first professional game in North America on 1 April 2014, stopping 25 of 26 shots in a 3–1 victory over the Bridgeport Sound Tigers. The performance immediately signaled his readiness for the professional level.
During the 2014–15 AHL season, Forsberg helped Springfield set a new franchise record of eleven consecutive wins, appearing in ten of those contests. His strong play earned him an NHL recall, and he made his league debut on 1 November 2014 against the New Jersey Devils at the Prudential Center. The debut marked the culmination of a steady climb from Swedish junior hockey to the world’s top league.
NHL Breakthrough and Calder Cup (2015–2017)
In his second North American season, Forsberg played for the Lake Erie Monsters in the AHL and delivered one of the most remarkable postseason runs by a goaltender in recent memory. He started all nine of the Monsters’ 2016 Calder Cup playoff games without a loss, backstopping the franchise to its first Calder Cup championship. His playoff dominance established him as a goaltender capable of rising to the biggest moments.
That same season, Forsberg was recalled to the NHL on an emergency basis and recorded his first career league win. He also became the first goaltender in league history to earn his first NHL victory after entering a game in overtime or beyond. On 17 June 2016, Columbus signed him to a one-year contract extension, keeping him within the organization. He appeared briefly for the Blue Jackets during the 2016–17 season before being part of a major offseason trade.
Chicago, Carolina, and Edmonton (2017–2021)
On 23 June 2017, Forsberg was traded by Columbus, alongside Brandon Saad and a fifth-round pick, to the Chicago Blackhawks in exchange for Artemi Panarin, Tyler Motte, and a sixth-round pick. Three days later, he signed a two-year contract with Chicago. His time with the Blackhawks ended on 24 June 2019, when he was sent to the Carolina Hurricanes along with Gustav Forsling in a deal that brought Calvin de Haan and Aleksi Saarela to Chicago.
After completing his contract with Carolina, Forsberg signed a one-year, $700,000 deal with the Edmonton Oilers on 9 October 2020. Before the 2020–21 season began, he was waived and claimed back by the Hurricanes on 12 January 2021. He was returned to waivers shortly afterward and claimed by the Winnipeg Jets on 16 January 2021, then claimed again by the Ottawa Senators on 17 March 2021, making for one of the most traveled seasons of his career.
Ottawa Senators Era (2021–2025)
Forsberg joined Ottawa in March 2021 and quickly settled into a backup role behind Matt Murray. He signed a one-year contract extension on 5 May 2021 and transitioned into a starting role during the 2021–22 campaign, appearing in 46 games. On 21 March 2022, the Senators rewarded his play with a three-year, $8.25 million contract extension carrying an average annual value of $2.75 million.
His Senators tenure was defined by resilience. On 11 February 2023, against the Edmonton Oilers, Forsberg tore the medial collateral ligament in both knees during a collision with teammate Travis Hamonic and forward Zach Hyman. He was stretchered off the ice and missed the remainder of the season. After five seasons with Ottawa, the club did not offer him a new contract.
Los Angeles Kings Era (2025–Present)
On 1 July 2025, Forsberg signed a two-year, $4.5 million contract with the Los Angeles Kings as a free agent. In his first appearance against his former club, he delivered a shutout in a 1–0 road victory over the Ottawa Senators. The performance served as an immediate statement that he remained a capable starting goaltender at the NHL level.
Notable Events and Milestones
Forsberg’s 2016 Calder Cup run with the Lake Erie Monsters stands as the defining chapter of his career, as he went undefeated across nine playoff starts. He also became the first goaltender in NHL history to earn his first career win after entering a game post-regulation, a unique statistical milestone. His return from a devastating two-knee injury in February 2023 further underscored his durability and commitment to the sport.
Anton Forsberg Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Forsberg’s father is a trainer and chiropractor who works with a professional ice hockey team in Sweden. That professional connection gave Anton early insight into athletic preparation, body mechanics, and the daily routines required of elite players. His upbringing in Härnösand kept him grounded in the traditions of Swedish hockey development.
Personal Life
Forsberg is married and has two children. The family has accompanied him through multiple NHL cities, including stops in Columbus, Chicago, Carolina, Edmonton, Ottawa, and now Los Angeles. Despite the frequent moves that come with a journeyman goaltender’s career, he has maintained a stable family life off the ice.
2025 Season Performance
Forsberg’s 2025–26 campaign with the Los Angeles Kings began with one of the more memorable debuts of his career. In his first game against the Ottawa Senators, he turned aside every shot he faced in a 1–0 road win, posting a shutout in his first appearance for his new club. The result provided an early confidence boost for both the goaltender and his new teammates.
Signed to provide experienced depth behind the Kings’ established netminders, Forsberg is expected to play a complementary role while competing for additional starts as the season unfolds. His veteran presence, combined with his history of stepping up during injury stretches, gives Los Angeles flexibility in how it manages its goaltending rotation. Continued strong performances could position him for a larger workload as the schedule progresses.
Heading into the heart of the season, Forsberg’s primary objectives are staying healthy, maintaining a strong save percentage, and contributing to a Kings team with postseason aspirations. His track record of delivering quality starts in pressure situations makes him a reliable option whenever he is called upon between the pipes.