The Chicago Blackhawks have signed defenseman Gustav Forsling to a three-year entry-level contract, the team announced Wednesday.
Forsling, 19, scored nine goals with 18 assists in 86 games the past two seasons with Linköpings HC of the Swedish Hockey League. He has 21 points (six goals, 15 assists) in 48 games last season for the club. He’s considered one of Chicago’s premier defensive prospects along with Ville Pokka.
Forsling also played a dynamic role on Sweden’s 2015 World Junior Championship team, recording three goals and five assists in seven games. His eight points led all blue liners in the tournament.
The Blackhawks will now have, at least, five Swedish defenseman in training camp next fall: Forsling, Niklas Hjalmarsson, Erik Gustafsson, David Rundblad and Viktor Svedberg. There’s also Carl Dahlstrom, Robin Norell and Robin Press, who has yet to sign.
Chicago acquired Forsling in January 2015 from the Vancouver Canucks in exchange for defenseman Adam Clendening. Forsling was selected 126th overall with in the fifth-round of the 2014 NHL Draft by Vancouver.