Photo by Lisa Gansky from New York, NY, USA, CC BY-SA 2.0
Anton Forsberg
Los Angeles Kings Goaltender #31
A journeyman backup who quietly outplayed the starter last season.
| Season | GP | W | L | OTL | GA | GAA | SO | SA | SV% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-26 | 36 | 16 | 12 | 5 | 87 | 2.57 | 3 | 952 | .909 |
| Career | 226 | 90 | 93 | 19 | 598 | 2.96 | 11 | 6295 | .905 |
Last Season
Thirty-six games, a .909 save percentage, a 2.57 goals-against average and three shutouts — better than the starter’s numbers by a clear margin, in nearly as heavy a workload as a backup ever gets.
The Physical Game
Six-three and technically sound. He plays a straightforward positional game, is square to the puck, and does not give up much through the middle. Nothing about his style is athletic or memorable, which is generally a compliment for a goaltender.
The weakness is the one most goaltenders of his profile share: sharp lateral plays and traffic. He is beaten on second chances more than on first shots, and his rebound control is good rather than excellent.
The Mental Game
Being a backup for a decade requires a temperament, and he has it. He goes weeks without playing and then delivers a competent start, which is a genuinely difficult thing to do and the reason he keeps getting jobs.
The Intangibles
Seventh-round pick, six organisations, more than 220 NHL games without ever being handed a starting job. Last season was the best of his career.
At thirty-three he is what he is: a reliable 1B who will play thirty-plus games and win his share. If the starter struggles again, this team has a real decision rather than a crisis.