Player Discussion Anton Forsberg

[aragorn]

Forsberg has had past yrs where he sucked too at different times, he has never been a #1 goalie here, even Korpisalo & Talbot were the better goalies. It's time to move on & Merilainen is proving he may already be ready. If not, they can try another backup at a much cheaper salary. Forsberg has been part of this org for five yrs & has yet to come close to being a starter.

 

[OD99]

We need a little love for this man!

He held the fort when the team was getting dominated in the 1st and then had some other big saves throughout the game.

He has struggled mightily, but this was a huge performance and he is full value for his W.

 

[BonHoonLayneCornell]

We need a little love for this man!

He held the fort when the team was getting dominated in the 1st and then had some other big saves throughout the game.

He has struggled mightily, but this was a huge performance and he is full value for his W.

I was starting to wonder if we'd ever see him get a W in Ottawa again. Kudos to Forsberg for stepping up today.

 

[thinkwild]

Thats two impressive games in a row for Forsey now. And with time off in between games. Once he gets in a groove he has been pretty good and he looks to be getting back there as a solid backup. There's no hurry with Leevi. He's bound to hit a wall or adversity soon. The organization is better served if Leevi is in the minors and Forsey manages to stay sharp as backup. Either with strengthened trade value at the deadline or depth for the playoffs. Lets not forget about him or write him off yet. In spite of all the fan loss of confidence in him and his play not being great, he worked through it and is looking good. That's pretty admirable to me. I dont want to toss it aside just yet.

 

[BonHoonLayneCornell]

Thats two impressive games in a row for Forsey now. And with time off in between games. Once he gets in a groove he has been pretty good and he looks to be getting back there as a solid backup. There's no hurry with Leevi. He's bound to hit a wall or adversity soon. The organization is better served if Leevi is in the minors and Forsey manages to stay sharp as backup. Either with strengthened trade value at the deadline or depth for the playoffs. Lets not forget about him or write him off yet. In spite of all the fan loss of confidence in him and his play not being great, he worked through it and is looking good. That's pretty admirable to me. I dont want to toss it aside just yet.

Do you mean 2 of the last 3? Didn't think he was very good in Buffalo for the low shot total he faced, but was pretty good against Detroit.

I get the sentiment here. He seems like a great guy and relying on a rookie makes people nervous, but statistically, Merilainen has given the team a far higher chance of winning than Forsberg has. That's indisputable. It's also been a great story to rally around. I don't think they just toss that aside in a season they desperately need to make the playoffs. He's put up Ullmark numbers while Forsberg has put up below average backup numbers 2 years running.

I'm all for Forsberg getting more chances after today's solid game, but if he strings together bad games again, they don't have the luxury of just rolling him out there anyways when there are better options. It's on Forsberg essentially, but the leash should be very short. IMO.

 

[Dionysus]

Nice solid game by Forsy! Great to see him battling to help the team.

 

[thinkwild]

Do you mean 2 of the last 3? Didn't think he was very good in Buffalo for the low shot total he faced, but was pretty good against Detroit.

I get the sentiment here. He seems like a great guy and relying on a rookie makes people nervous, but statistically, Merilainen has given the team a far higher chance of winning than Forsberg has. That's indisputable. It's also been a great story to rally around. I don't think they just toss that aside in a season they desperately need to make the playoffs. He's put up Ullmark numbers while Forsberg has put up below average backup numbers 2 years running.

I'm all for Forsberg getting more chances after today's solid game, but if he strings together bad games again, they don't have the luxury of just rolling him out there anyways when there are better options. It's on Forsberg essentially, but the leash should be very short. IMO.

I've no problem with a short leash for both the Silent Assassin and Forsberg. But i think Forsberg is making the case that the leash should be his first.

 

[BonHoonLayneCornell]

I've no problem with a short leash for both the Silent Assassin and Forsberg. But i think Forsberg is making the case that the leash should be his first.

It's hard to argue with team results in Leevi's games for me, but I get the seniority thing may dictate it. I like Forsberg playing better, but I'd like to see more than 2 quality starts out of 3 and a 1-2 record in those games. Certainly until Ullmark is back, it should be Leevi's net imo, but the big question is when Linus is back.

 

[thinkwild]

Its not the seniority thing for me. I'm really liking Leevi too. dont get me wrong. I'm a little leery of annointing him this quickly maybe in a been here before kinda way. But i dont think Leevi was better than Forsbergs last game for example. And it is better for the organization this year if Forsberg can earn the backup spot and Leevi waits for the opportunity that looks to soon be there.

 

[darude]

No one game where Forsberg plays well is gonna convince me he's recovered from his surgery and is returning to pre-surgery form.

The exact problem has been his consistency. Somehow gets two shutouts while also letting in softies that would make Korpisalo blush.

 

[thinkwild]

Im definitely on an island here lol. Im hoping that he has found his pre surgery form which admittedly wasnt elite. Like Ullmark needed a few games to find his groove, so did Forsberg. And now im hoping he has found it. And if he can maintain it thru either the trade deadline day or the playoffs then the team maximizes options this year.

 

[BonHoonLayneCornell]

Its not the seniority thing for me. I'm really liking Leevi too. dont get me wrong. I'm a little leery of annointing him this quickly maybe in a been here before kinda way. But i dont think Leevi was better than Forsbergs last game for example. And it is better for the organization this year if Forsberg can earn the backup spot and Leevi waits for the opportunity that looks to soon be there.

Gotcha. I might feel differently if Forsberg had term or were seen as a future part of the team, but this is almost definitely his last few months with the team. Ultimately, I just want the team to win and who gives the best chance to do that. For me, that's Merilainen right now, but at some point it will be Ullmark's net again either way and hard decisions will have to be made.

What Merilainen has done is pretty crazy. Small sample size and all, so it doesn't really count, but he'd be 6th in NHL save percentage today. 1st before the 5 goal Boston game. I don't know how you move away from that in favor of a guy sub .890, so it's on Forsberg to get those numbers up and take the net back or step aside imo.

 

[Sun God Nika]

Grateful he was able to steal one today but back to Leevi or Ullmark for Tuesday please. I just don't trust this guy anymore.

 

[Larionov]

Grateful he was able to steal one today but back to Leevi or Ullmark for Tuesday please. I just don't trust this guy anymore.

Nor should you. History shows that he will retreat back to his previous form. What he gave us today is what he can give you once in a while - a good spot start. If you try to ride him, he will crumble every time. I'd be leery of dealing him, though, or putting him on waivers, simply because Sogaard is both terrible and injury prone, and Ullmark's health will always be a question mark. We need enough healthy goalies to get us through the season, so if we have to carry three on the main club for the balance of the year, that's fine...