Filip Forsberg will be competing in the 2015 All-Star Game in Columbus.
While the 20-year-old rookie was initially going to participate in just the skills competition, an injury to Evgeni Malkin of the Pittsburgh Penguins opened the door for Forsberg. Now he’ll get to be part of the Fantasy Draft and Sunday’s main event.
Nashville, Tenn. (January 22, 2015) – The National Hockey League announced today that Nashville Predators rookie forward Filip Forsberg has been named to the 2015 Honda NHL All-Star Game on Sunday afternoon (4 p.m. CT, NBCSN). Forsberg – who was already slated to head to Columbus this weekend to participate in the rookie portion of the NHL All-Star Fantasy Draft presented by Draft Kings on Friday (7 p.m. CT, NBCSN) and the Honda NHL All-Star Skills Competition on Saturday (6 p.m. CT, NBCSN) – is the only rookie named to the Game.
Forsberg, 20 (8/13/94), leads the Predators, League rookies and sits among the Top 25 NHLers overall, in points with 40 (15g-25a) through 45 games played. He is also first among rookie forwards in average time on ice (17:18), his four game-winning goals are tied for third-most in the NHL and his +24 is third among all League skaters. On Jan. 6, the Ostervala, Sweden native set a franchise record for points by a rookie (14g-24a-38pts) just 39 games into the 2014-15 season.
Forsberg joins defenseman Shea Weber, goaltender Pekka Rinne and the Predators coaching staff led by Head Coach Peter Laviolette in being selected to the 2015 All-Star Game, forming the largest Predators contingent ever to represent the franchise at the contest.
The Predators, who have an 8-1-3 record since the Christmas Break, head into the NHL All-Star Break leading the League in point-percentage (.722) and return to Bridgestone Arena on Tuesday, Jan. 27 to take on the visiting Colorado Avalanche (7 p.m. CT, FOX Sports Tennessee, 102.5 The Game). Fans can celebrate Nashville’s All-Star representation, by purchasing the Preds special 2015 All-Star promo tickets. After entering promo code “ALLSTAR” on ticketmaster.com, fans will receive an upper-level ticket to any Tuesday home game in January or February for $20.15, including the upcoming game against the Avalanche. Tickets are going fast for upcoming home games, to purchase, visit nashvillepredators.com or call 615-770-7800.