Florida Panthers defenseman Gustav Forsling drew high praise from NHL analysts Thomas Hickey and E.J. Hradek.During an Aug. 13 appearance on NHL Network, the discussion ranked Forsling as the 12th-best defenseman in the NHL heading into this season. The rating prompted Hradek to offer this insight into Forsling’s abilities:“Forsling is another guy who matured into his game and got confident that he could play in this league.”The comment underscores the long road Forsling has traveled in the NHL. He began as a fifth-round pick of the Vancouver Canucks in 2015, broke into the league with the Chicago Blackhawks, and was then traded to the Carolina Hurricanes. The Hurricanes placed him on waivers, allowing the Panthers to claim him.It was the belief that former Panthers coach Joel Quenneville had in Forsling that allowed the 29-year-old to finally find a home in Florida. As Hradek noted, Forsling has been a fantastic fit.He added:“He's just got he's just the ability to close the gap in the neutral zone hits you really, I would imagine can really appreciate that. He just doesn't give you room. He gets in there. His stick play is terrific. I just think he defends really smart.”Gustav Forsling's defensive ability, coupled with solid offensive upside, has made him an indispensable part of the Panthers’ blue line. Florida will be counting on him to maximize his skills as the club looks for a third consecutive Stanley Cup.Gustav Forsling shares a common trait with other top blue-linersForsling has consistently played against the opposition's best players - Source: ImagnHickey singled out an interesting characteristic that Gustav Forsling shares with other elite defensemen:“The best defenseman in the NHL, one attribute that they'll share. They trust their feet more than anything else.”Hickey compared Forsling’s play against superstar forwards like Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl, highlighting how Forsling rarely gets beaten by such talent.He added:“Every series the Florida Panthers go, he gets the toughest matchup, and it always looks like he's about to get beaten. But he just understands that that edge is trusting your feet…”Check out the conversation here:Hickey underscored that Forsling’s skating is a major asset. Regardless of direction, Forsling trusts he can get into the right position. That confidence enables him to shut down the opposition’s best players.While Gustav Forsling may occasionally look out of place, Hickey noted that he can recover quickly and get back into position. It may not always look pretty, but it has been effective, and that’s a major reason he’s a key member of the Panthers’ blue line.