Confirmed with Link: Clendening traded for Gustav Forsling

[Teemu]

I like to think that Canucks fans die a little inside when this jumps up to "Last Post" in the Central Division forums

 

[Toews2Bickell]

Who can you compare him to based on preseason performance?

Lidstrom.

 

[bwana63]

Lidstrom.

haha!

Actually, I see Forsling as more of a Lidstrom/Keith hybrid. ;-)

 

[Fortyfives]

Honestly, Forsling needs more hype. He's been under sold here lately.

 

[tdfxman]

Is it me, but I just don't think his skating is anything to write home about. At all. He uses edges really well and turns well, but straight ahead speed, I am a bit concerned.

Maybe I am seeing things.

 

[Taze em]

Honestly, Forsling needs more hype. He's been under sold here lately.

If forsling was owned by a bad team the NHL fans would know more about him and benhyping him as a 1D. Since he's the Hawks no one wants to hear about the next Klingberg. It's a rich get richer thing.

Disclaimer: I don't put 1D expectation in him. There are like 11 1D in the league. Just going off resume and performance that's where he would stand if he was a Sabre or an Oiler.

 

[Toews2Bickell]

haha!

Actually, I see Forsling as more of a Lidstrom/Keith hybrid. ;-)

Keith isnt smooth. He's awesome, but he's not smooth. Forsling makes it look effortless. And very smooth.

 

[Taze em]

Who can you compare him to based on preseason performance?

Klingberg. But Stars were desperate for D when he came up and Hawks aren't. So h be that 5D like Leddy where no one knows how good he is for a while.

 

[King In The North]

Klingberg. But Stars were desperate for D when he came up and Hawks aren't. So h be that 5D like Leddy where no one knows how good he is for a while.

Damn, some pretty high comparisons for Forsling. That would just be unfair to the rest of us if he actually pans out to be a Cam Fowler or John Klingberg .

 

[Taze em]

Damn, some pretty high comparisons for Forsling. That would just be unfair to the rest of us if he actually pans out to be a Cam Fowler or John Klingberg .

Seriously though. Throw away his draft position and look at what he's done in Sweden, World Juniors and what he's done in camp. He won't be Klingberg because of opportunity. He's gonna be good though.

 

[King In The North]

Seriously though. Throw away his draft position and look at what he's done in Sweden, World Juniors and what he's done in camp. He won't be Klingberg because of opportunity. He's gonna be good though.

No doubt, thought the trade was such a bone-headed move by Vancouver.

 

[Idionym]

I feel like a better comparison at the moment would be a poor man's Sami Vatanen.

 

[Taze em]

I feel like a better comparison at the moment would be a poor man's Sami Vatanen.

Wouldn't call him a poor mans anything but I'm a guy who looked back in HF and saw all fans chirping Duncan Keith and saying he should be moved to Forward. You never know. Could settle as a 5 but has that 1 upside.

 

[Blackhawkswincup]

I like to think that Canucks fans die a little inside when this jumps up to "Last Post" in the Central Division forums

Your a heartless monster!

 

[DisgruntledHawkFan]

Wouldn't call him a poor mans anything but I'm a guy who looked back in HF and saw all fans chirping Duncan Keith and saying he should be moved to Forward. You never know. Could settle as a 5 but has that 1 upside.

Keith to Forward? What?

 

[Idionym]

Wouldn't call him a poor mans anything but I'm a guy who looked back in HF and saw all fans chirping Duncan Keith and saying he should be moved to Forward. You never know. Could settle as a 5 but has that 1 upside.

I meant that's how I expect him to play this year, not what his potential is. I agree that he has some very high upside (hence me changing my avatar to him) but I think him playing as a worse Sami Vatenen, who is a very good second pairing PMD, would be very good for him this year.

For the future, I have no idea what to compare him to. For D-men I think it's usually a crap shoot, e.g. that Keith thread.

 

[Taze em]

Keith to Forward? What?

If you are really, really, really bored go back to when Keith and Seabrook were prospects. It completely changed the way I look at prospects. Don't think anyone was dumb posting that. Guys with skills sometimes figure it out in a big way. Everyone tries downplaying guys. You simply cannot dismiss the chance a guy will be a cornerstone or a HOF. Same goes the other way but people generally really underestimate.

I read on some baseball scouting website that they will never give a prospect an ace rating because there are so few... and yet there are plenty in the MLB. Everyone says "future top 4" but a select few will be aces.

That possibility simply cannot be ruled out with Forsling yet. Having said that it's a longshot but he looks like a player no matter how you categorize him.

 

[Toews2Bickell]

I was being serious about the Lidstrom comp. Forsling will be a cornerstone defenseman for this team for years to come.

 

[Idionym]

I was being serious about the Lidstrom comp. Forsling will be a cornerstone defenseman for this team for years to come.

Based on what? Let's give him atleast a year in the NHL before we jump up to HOF-potential.

 

[DisgruntledHawkFan]

If you are really, really, really bored go back to when Keith and Seabrook were prospects. It completely changed the way I look at prospects. Don't think anyone was dumb posting that. Guys with skills sometimes figure it out in a big way. Everyone tries downplaying guys. You simply cannot dismiss the chance a guy will be a cornerstone or a HOF. Same goes the other way but people generally really underestimate.

I read on some baseball scouting website that they will never give a prospect an ace rating because there are so few... and yet there are plenty in the MLB. Everyone says "future top 4" but a select few will be aces.

That possibility simply cannot be ruled out with Forsling yet. Having said that it's a longshot but he looks like a player no matter how you categorize him.

All the old posts were purged but I was posting here back before Keith was in the NHL. I remember him being a total train wreck and there was a pretty legendary thread "Duncan Keith: Chihuahua on skates" but I don't remember anyone wanting him at forward.

With you on not writing talented kids off though. Constantly cited it during the Leddy trade.

 

[bwana63]

Forsling has to find his own way, obviously. The deficiencies in his game will be exposed. But what a learning environment! Kid will soak up knowledge from Keith, Hammer, Soupy and Seabrook. Not to mention Q and Kitchen. Exciting stuff, to be sure. And pretty much a perfect situation for him.

 

[RememberTheRoar]

Forsling has to find his own way, obviously. The deficiencies in his game will be exposed. But what a learning environment! Kid will soak up knowledge from Keith, Hammer, Soupy and Seabrook. Not to mention Q and Kitchen. Exciting stuff, to be sure. And pretty much a perfect situation for him.

Is Kempny now in a position where he's fighting for a spot? Q said if Forsling is on the team, he's not going to be part of a platoon situation. Both Kempny and Forsling are lefties. Unless one can play on the other side, it looks like both are competing for the same spot.

Man is the defense lineup getting crowded:

DK-NH
BC-BS
open spot-TVR

 

[Hawkster]

Keith to Forward? What?

The Blackhawks top brass gave it real consideration before the first lockout and rule changes.

I know this because I asked Trent Yawney the question and he answered it. If I remember correctly DK even played a handful of games as a winger in Norfolk...

If the game didn't evolve towards skating and skill, Duncan Keith's career would have been very different.

 

[WJSN]

fwiw Q never said Forsling won't be platooned. He said "if he's going to be here, he'd be playing." That probably means he won't be sitting in the press box all the time next to Rozy.

Hawks will probably rotate Kempny and Forsling to start the season. If they like what they see from the two rookies, they could start giving TvR and Campbell (he's 37) nights off. There will be injuries as well. If everything goes smoothly, both Kempny and Forsling could end up playing ~60+ games each.

 

[BobbyJet]

The Blackhawks top brass gave it real consideration before the first lockout and rule changes.

I know this because I asked Trent Yawney the question and he answered it. If I remember correctly DK even played a handful of games as a winger in Norfolk...

If the game didn't evolve towards skating and skill, Duncan Keith's career would have been very different.

I don't know why folks are surprised by this. Every good coach will keep an open mind when it comes to young and talented hockey players who can skate well and aren't the biggest in stature. Just because a player has played a certain position growing up doesn't mean that is where they will stay when they hit the big leagues (goalies excepted of course).