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 | Team | GP | W | L | OTL | GA | GAA | SO | SA | SV% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014-15 | CBJ | 5 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 20 | 4.69 | 0 | 149 | .866 |
| 2015-16 | CBJ | 4 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 9 | 3.03 | 0 | 97 | .907 |
| 2016-17 | CBJ | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 4.10 | 0 | 27 | .852 |
| 2017-18 | CHI | 35 | 10 | 16 | 4 | 85 | 2.97 | 0 | 921 | .908 |
| 2019-20 | CAR | 3 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 8 | 3.35 | 0 | 78 | .897 |
| 2020-21 | OTT | 8 | 3 | 4 | 1 | 24 | 3.21 | 0 | 264 | .909 |
| 2021-22 | OTT | 46 | 22 | 17 | 4 | 121 | 2.82 | 1 | 1457 | .917 |
| 2022-23 | OTT | 28 | 11 | 11 | 2 | 80 | 3.26 | 2 | 817 | .902 |
| 2023-24 | OTT | 30 | 15 | 12 | 0 | 84 | 3.21 | 2 | 765 | .890 |
| 2024-25 | OTT | 30 | 11 | 12 | 3 | 76 | 2.72 | 3 | 768 | .901 |
| 2025-26 | LAK | 36 | 16 | 12 | 5 | 87 | 2.57 | 3 | 952 | .909 |
| 2026-27 so far | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Career | — | 226 | 90 | 93 | 19 | 598 | 2.96 | 11 | 6295 | .905 |
This Season So Far
The 2026-27 season has not started. The empty row above is his, and both it and this paragraph fill in on their own from the morning after he first plays: what he has done, what it is worth against his own last season, and the run he is on when the two disagree.
Last Season
36 games, a .909 save percentage, a 2.57 goals-against average and 3 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
6-3 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, 6 organisations, more than 220 NHL games without ever being handed a starting job. Last season was the best of his career.
At 33 he is what he is: a reliable 1B who will play 30-plus games and win his share. If the starter struggles again, this team has a real decision rather than a crisis.
The numbers underneath
Recent form
Last 20 appearances, 2025-26, oldest first
.941
save percentage over his last 8, on 205 shots · .915 across these 20
Each bar is one appearance, taller being a better save percentage. Filled bars are .920 or better.
Slightly out, and squared up early. Looking down at the crease, net at the top — he sets up about average.
He gives himself room to be beaten cleanly rather than room to scramble, which suits a goaltender who is technical rather than athletic.
Sound through the middle, ordinary on the second chance. Higher number, more dangerous. Seen from the shooter’s side, so the glove is on the right.
mid middle — Square and still. Clean shots from distance are his best area.
low blocker — Traffic and sharp lateral plays are where the goals come from, as with most goaltenders of this type.