Filip Forsberg On All-Star Weekend and Playing "Thirty Playoff Games" After the Break

Nashville Predators forward Filip Forsberg had a successful trip to Toronto for All-Star Weekend, but he is back with the team and focused on the stretch of hockey ahead for the Predators.

Filip Forsberg and the Nashville Predators were back on the ice this afternoon after the All-Star break, and Forsberg was happy to share his thoughts on the All-Star Weekend in Toronto. 

"That was a great time," Forsberg said of the All-Star experience. "Obviously ended up being a really successful weekend overall, but it was fun."

The event kicked off Thursday night with the All-Star Draft, and Forsberg admitted it was just a little nerve wracking waiting to hear one of the four team captains call his name.

"I was hoping I would avoid those envelopes at the end there because obviously I've been there before. I didn't want to be two for two on draft day, but I was happy with my selection."

Forsberg participated as a rookie the last time the NHL All-Star Game kicked off with a draft in 2015, and while he ended up being picked last, he did win a Honda Accord in the process. 

In 2015 Forsberg ended up on Team Toews, but this time around he joined Team Matthews after being selected 25th overall by team captain Auston Matthews, assistant captain Morgan Reilly, and celebrity captain Justin Bieber. Forsberg joined a team made up of Matthews' Toronto Maples Leafs teammates Mitch Marner and William Nylander and All-Stars Alex DeBrincat (DET), Vincent Trocheck (NYR), Matthew Barzal (NYI), Clayton Keller (ARI). Goaltenders Jake Oettinger (DAL) and Igor Shesterkin (NYR) rounded out the roster. 

It was a successful draft as Team Matthews went on to win the three-on-three competition and split $1 million. Forsberg scored three goals and two assists in the games. Auston Matthews was named MVP, but Matthews thought Forsberg was deserving of the honor. 

Forsberg had no complaints about the MVP selection.

"I think our captain was the leader of our team," Forsberg said. "That was the right choice."

After the All-Star event, Forsberg took a few days of vacation before the Predators got back to work this afternoon in a high energy practice. Currently out of a wildcard spot, Forsberg knows Nashville is facing a stretch of hockey in which every single game and point matter.

"We love being in this spot trying to push for the playoffs in the last thirty games," Forsberg said. 

"[We] play thirty playoff games before the playoffs start."

The Predators leading scorer feels good about where the team is heading into the final push of the season despite the losses before the break. 

"I think we're in a good spot," Forsberg said. "We put ourselves in the mix, and a couple losses here at the end might have made it look a little bit worse, but at the same time I think we're confident in our team and there's a lot more improvement coming up."

The Predators will return to action Saturday night as they host the Arizona Coyotes.