Already playing top pairing minutes, Forsling would likely take over PP1 if Oliver Ekman-Larsson has to miss any time

The Florida Panthers were already leaning heavily on defenseman Gus Forsling this season.

Now, just when it looked like Florida’s back line was on the brink of reaching full strength, the 27-year-old Swede could be asked to bear even more of the team's weight.

The Panthers came into the season knowing they would be without top defensemen Aaron Ekblad and Brandon Montour for at least a couple months.

That’s why it’s no surprise that Forsling is averaging more ice time so far this season than ever before during his career.

Panthers General Manager Bill Zito brought in several free agent rearguards over the summer to make up for missing Ekblad and Montour, but even with the new additions playing quite well, Forsling was going to have to be a leader of the bunch.

Along with Forsling, Florida has also utilized veteran Oliver Ekman-Larsson for high-end minutes and usage, and both have responded quite well to the challenge.

In the past week we learned that both Ekblad and Montour had been cleared to practice with their Panthers teammates and would be traveling with the team on their current three-game road trip, a signal that the two were perhaps closer than their initial mid-December targets.

Then Monday night in Boston things took an apparent turn in the opposite direction when Ekman-Larsson was the recipient of an illegal hit to the head from Boston defenseman Charlie McAvoy and had to leave the game.

Less than 24 hours later McAvoy was suspended for four games by the NHL Department of Player Safety for the hit. 

The Panthers were off on Tuesday so there won’t be any official updates on Ekman-Larsson until the team practices on Wednesday in Detroit.

Should the veteran have to miss any time, that would mean even more responsibility would be waiting for Forsling.

He’d likely get bumped up to Florida’s top power play unit in addition to skating top pairing minutes and getting regular shifts on the penalty kill.

To his credit, Forsling is in incredible shape and loves the extra work.

“I love playing a lot of minutes,” he said after Monday’s game in Boston. “It's awesome.”

While his defensive prowess hasn’t been impacted by the increase in usage and responsibility, Forsling has struggled to find the scoresheet so far this year.

His advanced metrics at even strength this season are some of the best of his career, which would indicate that production should eventually come, but just one goal on 13 shots through eight games is not up to the level that we've come to expect from Forsling.

Last season, playing in all 82 games for Florida, Forsling put up career bests with 13 goals, 28 assists, 41 points and 209 shots.

He’s going to have to pick things up if he wants to get on pace for those kind of numbers.

Though he’s already been key to Florida maintaining a stable blue line, Forsling can expect even more time in the spotlight should Ekman-Larsson have to miss any time. 

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