Florida Acquires Former Checkers Defenseman Gustav Forsling

The Checkers have been “reunited” with yet another player by way of a transaction between their former and current NHL affiliates.

The Florida Panthers claimed defenseman Gustav Forsling, who spent all of last season with Charlotte, on waivers over the weekend. He joins Eetu Luostarinen, Chase Priskie and Aleksi Saarela as former Carolina Hurricanes prospects that have recently made their way to the Panthers organization.

Forsling, 24, was a rock on the Checkers’ defense last season, posting 26 points (8g, 18a) and a plus-20 rating, the latter of which ranked second among all Charlotte skaters. With the Panthers, he is reunited with head coach Joel Quenneville, who presided over most of Forsling’s 122 previous NHL games played with the Chicago Blackhawks.

That NHL experience would seemingly make Forsling a good candidate for the Panthers’ taxi squad if he does not crack the regular lineup. With the Checkers opting out of this season, Forsling, if sent to the AHL, would join a handful of Florida prospects that have already been assigned to the Syracuse Crunch.