We're going to find out how good Alex Forsberg really is.
Forsberg, who walked out on the Prince George Cougars last Christmas and never expected to play for them again, is back in uniform for the local Western Hockey League team. He's back because the Cougars couldn't get what they felt was fair market value in a trade and he's back because he wants to play at the highest level possible as he tries to haul his once-promising career out of the mud.
For Forsberg, that means getting the attention of a National Hockey League team, all 30 of which passed him over in the 2013 draft. None wanted to risk a pick on a guy who produced modest offensive numbers in parts of three seasons with the Cougars and then showed questionable character in leaving them last December. And, evidently, none were impressed enough with his play as a member of the Humboldt Broncos, the junior A club that picked him up for the remainder of the 2012-13 season, that they wanted to take a chance on him.
To date, Forsberg -- considered a potential top-60 NHL draft pick after his rookie season in the WHL -- has 24 goals and 58 points in 87 games with the Cats. With the Broncos, he added seven goals and 14 points in 14 regular-season games and 12 more points (two goals, 10 helpers) in 16 playoff contests. Hardly the totals of a legitimate NHL prospect, especially when the label of "quitter" gets attached to them.
As most hockey watchers in these parts know, Forsberg was the first overall selection in the 2010 WHL bantam draft. And at that time, he was the clear No. 1 in the eyes of most scouts across Western Canada.
In his draft year, as a second-year bantam, Forsberg skated in the Saskatchewan triple-A midget league and piled up 26 goals and 72 points in 44 games with the Beardy's Blackhawks. His point total tied him for third overall in league scoring and was tops among freshmen. Forsberg had junior hockey talent-seekers drooling, not only because of his offensive abilities but because of his size and bloodlines -- he was already five-foot-nine and 170 pounds and was the brother of Cougars defenceman Jesse Forsberg, known for his blend of skill, toughness and competitive fire every time he was on the ice.
Prior to that spring's bantam draft, Cougars general manager Dallas Thompson didn't try to hide the fact the Cougars wanted the younger Forsberg in their lineup.
"We like Alex," Thompson told The Citizen. He went on to say that, along with Forsberg's obvious talent, his work ethic was "very similar to his brother, who is a warrior each and every game."
But work ethic is where Forsberg fell down. Some nights at CN Centre, he looked like a true star and on others, he had as much impact on the game as a parking lot attendant.
Now, with his hockey future hanging in the balance, Forsberg needs to put his inconsistencies behind him and try to establish himself as an upper-echelon player in the WHL. With NHL scouts casting curious eyes in his direction, he has every reason to bring his 'A' game to the rink every time the Cougars play. Assuming he does that, we'll know soon enough whether all the hype about him from earlier in his career was justified.
In Forsberg's favour is the fact he's still young (he turns 19 in January) and still has plenty of time to make a positive impression on those who could offer him a chance in pro hockey. If he lights up the league this season, those same NHL teams that ignored him in the draft will once again be interested.
Let's just say he puts up 100 points. Offensive production like that would certainly foster a little forgetfulness about his past troubles.
Right now, Forsberg seems to be in the right mindset. During training camp, he was one of the Cougars' best players, with four goals in three scrimmages last weekend and a couple of assists in Monday's intrasquad game, won 3-1 by his side. Forsberg has also been showing a new commitment to defence, which could bode well for him and the team.
And that's the other angle here: the Cougars need Forsberg to be the real deal as they try to get back into the playoffs after a two-year absence and, in the bigger picture, try to get their franchise heading in the right direction after years of mediocrity and declining attendance.
This is a kid with a lot of weight on his shoulders. But, if he can carry the load, the individual and team rewards could be sweet indeed.
