I've played with him for a lot of years, so he's become a really good friend. "He's such a big part, such a big part of our team, such a great player. "Obviously as captain, you want to stay," Josi said. The two have played together since Forsberg was acquired in a trade with the Washington Capitals on April 3, 2013. You have to deal with things as they come, and it is what it is."ĭefenseman Roman Josi said he hopes Forsberg returns. "The last time was a little different, being. "Obviously it's the first time being in this situation in a long time," Forsberg said. I'm sure the talks will start progressing again and we'll see what happens."įorsberg said the uncertainty of his future makes for a different feeling heading into the offseason. We just focused on playing well for the rest of the season and playing well in the playoffs. "But … there was progress all the way up until the Trade Deadline, and after that, the teams were set and obviously nothing was going to happen at that point. "I don't want to give you guys too much information on the negotiations and stuff," Forsberg said. I think that's the direction that a team has to be heading, and I think we are."įorsberg said contract negotiations went on during the season but were paused following the March 21 NHL Trade Deadline. I do believe we have a team that can make that in the future. "But at the same time, every player plays to win the Stanley Cup. "I've been fortunate enough to be on this team for a long time now, and we've made the playoffs every year," Forsberg said. Forsberg is the Predators' career leader in goals, Stanley Cup Playoff goals (29) and playoff points (53).įorsberg said he likes the direction of the Predators, who reached the postseason for an eighth straight season, this time as the West's second wild card. He is a three-time 30-goal scorer and has 469 points (220 goals, 249 assists) in 566 NHL games. The 27-year-old set NHL career highs with 42 goals, 42 assists and 84 points in the sixth and final year of his contract. "There's been obviously some progression throughout the season from where we started in September, and me and my agent and are going to be in ongoing conversation in the process. just kind of have to wait and see and play it out. "The business side is completely different than the on-ice side. "I've said that since Day One: The goal is to come back here," Forsberg said. He's just going about his business and being successful.The pending unrestricted free agent forward's 10th season with Nashville ended Monday when the Predators were swept in the Western Conference First Round by the Colorado Avalanche with a 5-3 loss in Game 4. He's a simple kid and he's just kind of having a good time right now and enjoying the success. "He's very level-headed, he's very humble," Ellis said. All the while, he keeps producing without much fanfare. Having Forsberg clicking like he has so far doesn't hurt. "It's a good difference and it's a big difference and it's one of the huge factors of why we're winning more games than we're losing right now." "There's no question that psychologically you probably play a little bit different with Pekka in net than we did last year for 51 games that he wasn't there," Poile said. Rinne being back after an injury and infection-plagued season helps, too. Not only is Laviolette new, but Poile pointed out that Nashville has a handful of new forwards, including Ribeiro, Neal and Derek Roy. How many times do we need to realize that these guys really benefit from coming over to North America, going to Milwaukee, going through that process."Įllis said while Barry Trotz - who moved on quickly to Washington - was a great coach, the Predators are benefiting from a change of scenery. "Everybody gets to the NHL when they're ready to get to the NHL, when they're good enough," general manager David Poile said. That was perhaps the best thing for him and the team. Erat's role was minimalized in Washington last season - he asked for and got a trade to the Phoenix Coyotes - and Latta is a fourth-liner.įorsberg struggled in his first long look in the NHL with the Predators and was sent to the Milwaukee Admirals of the American Hockey League. Less than a year later, the Capitals wanted to make a push for the playoffs and traded Forsberg to the Predators for veteran winger Martin Erat and young grinder Michael Latta. Projected to go in the top three, the Swedish forward with the slick skill slipped down the board. Confident but not cocky, Forsberg has grown physically and mentally from the player the Washington Capitals somewhat reluctantly drafted 11th overall in 2012.
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