Forsberg's father was role model, key to success with Predators

NASHVILLE -- Before Filip Forsberg was a forward for the Nashville Predators, ripping snap shots and dangling around NHL defensemen, he was a boy in Sweden with a role model who would help shape the rest of his life.

Patrik Forsberg, Filip's father, played Division 1 and 2 hockey in Sweden and spent one season in Norway during a career from 1987-88 until 2001-02. That's where Filip's love of hockey began to take off.
"Some if it is just the stories I've been told, but I just remember being at the rink and just watching the games," Filip said. "I loved hockey growing up right away. I was playing as soon as I could walk. Same thing, I don't remember that but just seeing pictures. We lived in Norway for a year when he was playing over there, and I remember a little bit of that. That was cool. He wasn't playing on the highest level, but it was still a pretty good level. That's how it all started."
When Patrik's playing days were over, he began to coach Filip and his younger brother, Fredrik, and instilled a message in them that has stuck with Filip ever since he was a child.
"To this day, it's just to work hard," Filip said. "I think that's the biggest thing. He tells me all the time that he wishes he would have worked harder. I think that's the No. 1 reason that he keeps telling us that. He obviously had a lot of talent, but in his words, he wasted it by not working hard. That's obviously a mistake that he didn't want to see either of us do."
Patrik always knew that Filip was talented, but he also knew that talent alone wouldn't be enough to get him to the NHL.

"Maybe it's because I cheated on that part myself when I was playing," Patrik said. "You need to work hard. If you don't work hard, you're never going to reach the top levels, first in Sweden and now over here. It's the most important thing to practice."
It's not always easy being a coach's son. Sometimes there's more pressure to perform and prove that the playing time you get is earned rather than given. Filip never had to worry about that when Patrik was his coach.
"He was honest, always," Filip said. "He might have been a little more honest on me sometimes, but at the same time, it's not like I got any privileges. I was one of the best players on the team growing up, so it's not like he had to play me. Like any kid, if I played good I heard that, and if I didn't play good, I probably heard that a little more."
Growing up watching his father play may have been where Filip's passion for hockey took off, but he has forged his own path since then. This season, he leads the Predators with 14 goals and has 20 points in 22 games. He has 275 points (131 goals, 144 assists) in 353 NHL games and 42 points (22 goals, 20 assists) in 55 Stanley Cup Playoff games.
"Hopefully I've had some impact, but he has such strong emotions for hockey himself," Patrik said. "Of course, when he was very little, he looked up to me. But when he grew up, he decided everything by himself and he just loves hockey and hates to lose. That's the most important thing for him."
Patrik sometimes still can't believe his son has become a star in the NHL. Filip's journey from Ostervala, Sweden, to Nashville has been a dream come true for his family.

"It's just awesome," Patrik said. "It's a little bit strange to see him playing against big stars we learned from back home in Sweden. A lot of Swedish players like [Daniel and Henrik Sedin], of course they're finished now. On his first face-off in Nashville, he stood between [former Detroit Red Wings forward Henrik Zetterberg], and Zetterberg told him 'Welcome to the League.' And that was a big thing for me."
Patrik and Carina Forsberg, Filip's mother, have been in Nashville for the past week watching the Predators play and spending time with their eldest son. Filip is thankful for the support he's always received from his family.
"They've always been there since Day One," Filip said of his parents. "It's just awesome now. They're here in town right now, and it's just awesome to have them. I think they love it even more than I do to be here, and it's awesome. I think that's the biggest thing. They obviously taught me a lot of things, but I think just their endless support.
"They're always there. They always have been and they always will be."