On Tuesday afternoon, the Chicago Blackhawks announced that defenseman Gustav Forsling underwent successful wrist surgery and would be fully recovered in 14 weeks. According to the team report, Forsling required surgery on his right wrist.
Gustav Forsling To Miss 14 Weeks
Last season, Forsling played in 41 games for the Blackhawks and tallied 13 points (3 G, 10 A). Forsling also spent time last season with the Rockford IceHogs in the AHL, skating in 18 games and recording five points (2 G, 3 A) as well as playing in all 13 Calder Cup Playoff games with the IceHogs.
Forsling has spent the better part of his first two professional seasons in North America playing at the NHL level with the Chicago Blackhawks, but has nearly split equal time between Chicago and Rockford in the AHL. He has 48 games played with the IceHogs in the AHL and 79 games with the Blackhawks in the NHL since his North American debut during the 2016-17 season.
Team Physician Dr. Michael Terry: "Gustav Forsling underwent surgery today on his right wrist. The surgery went well and the expected recovery time is 14 weeks." #Blackhawks pic.twitter.com/J54VSM89iL
— Chicago Blackhawks (@NHLBlackhawks) July 31, 2018
Forsling, who turned 22-years old last June, was in the hunt to be a part of the Blackhawks defensive core to begin the NHL season in October. With his return from surgery set to be in late October or early November, Forsling most likely will return to action with the IceHogs when he is cleared, if only for a conditioning stint before he is brought to the NHL roster.
With his absence from training camp this fall, the door is now open for other defensemen with the Blackhawks organization who were considered “on the fence” between starting the year with Chicago in the NHL or Rockford in the AHL. Players like Carl Dahlstrom, Blake Hillman, Dennis Gilbert, and Henri Jokiharju now have their window of opportunity open just a bit wider to make the NHL roster out of training camp.