Dec 5, 2023, 01:04 PM ET

This season will include 100 exclusive regular-season games across ESPN, ESPN+, Hulu and ABC. More than 1,050 out-of-market games will be available to ESPN+ subscribers via NHL PowerPlay on ESPN+.
• How to watch
• Subscribe to ESPN+
• Stream the NHL on ESPN

ESPN: Another big NHL move is the creation of a midseason international tournament that’s scheduled for 2025. It won’t be a World Cup, but it’s expected to feature the U.S. vs. Canada and Sweden vs. Finland. What were your thoughts when you heard about that?

Forsberg: I’m all for it. We need to get some kind of international hockey back with NHL players participating. And I understand the concerns for World Cups, Olympics, all that type of stuff. I know it’s not the easiest thing just to put together. But I do think that we’re currently — us as players, but also the fans out there — are not getting to watch these games.

I remember watching the Olympics and best-on-best hockey growing up. You can’t beat it. Representing your country in those situations is special. I’ve been fortunate. I was in the World Cup, obviously, which was a little different with the Europe team and Team North America, but and then I also played in a couple of world championships. But those are different, too, with no playoff players in there.

I’m all for it. And playing Finland makes it a little bit extra special too.

ESPN: It’s no secret the media loves coming to Nashville to cover games. What’s it like playing in Nashville?

Forsberg: I mean, I see why you people would like it, because there’s a lot of benefits with the building being where it is. You could have a good time within minutes of where the puck is dropped. When the game is ended, you can have a real good time after it.

But for me, it’s the people, ever since I first came here. There’s a saying about Southern hospitality, and that’s something that’s really through the city as a whole. I came here when I was 19, over 10 years ago, and the city really helped me out. At the time, I didn’t really know anything about anything, and lot of people that were really helpful to me early on still keep in touch with me.

ESPN: Look, just because the Professional Hockey Writers Association holds its meetings at Tootsie’s on Broadway doesn’t mean we’re imbibing. Speaking of Nashville food and drink: Are you a hot chicken guy?

Forsberg: I mean, I’m not. I don’t love spicy food, so I can’t say I do [like it]. I don’t know if you guys have seen the new Hattie B’s location, but it’s right across from Bridgestone Arena. It’s a pretty prime location. So next time you guys come, you can fuel up before you get going at Tootsie’s over there.

ESPN: Did you try it? And you’re like, I can’t do this again?

Forsberg: Yeah, I did. And I even did like a 2-out-of-7 on the heat scale. I wasn’t even halfway there. I’ve got some work to do there, for sure.

ESPN: You’re a minority owner of Nashville SC, the city’s Major League Soccer team. What’s that been like?

Forsberg: It’s been crazy, not going to lie. We jumped in about a year ago. This first year has been pretty wild to say the least, obviously with Lionel Messi being the highlight for the whole league. We had Nashville’s league cup run, playing Messi in the finals; it’s just been really cool seeing the whole city embrace soccer.

I love soccer. I’ve done it since I was a kid, obviously being from Europe and soccer is such a big part of everything over there. It’s really cool to see that coming here. Bringing the best player ever is obviously a great marketing decision by David Beckham. Don’t get me wrong. Hopefully we can do something similar here in Nashville at some point, too. But it’s awesome. It’s been a great journey, and I’m really excited about future with it.

ESPN: Did you get to meet Messi?

Forsberg: No, I didn’t. It’s actually funny. We played him in the finals, and I had about 10 guys from the Predators that went. And Yakov Trenin asks me, “Hey, do you think we can get to meet Messi after the game?” He was like dead serious. And I was like, “Nah, I don’t think we have that type of pull here.” And he was like, “OK, no problem.”

I’m hoping I can meet him. The first year, we were learning, kind of getting to know some of the people. But now, the second year, we’re going to take over a little bit more and make some changes. And hopefully we can get in that room with him. That’d be cool.

ESPN: Finally, you’re obviously very well known for the mustache. It’s part of the persona. The Filip Forsberg presentation. How often do people bring it up in Nashville?

Forsberg: I’d say about at least once a day. It’s obviously hard not to. It’s mostly like some random people who will stop you and say like, “Oh, nice mustache.” I think it’s definitely a conversation starter. It’s a topic, a lot of people like it. And yeah, it’s hard to miss, too, I guess. So it’s a little bit of my own fault.