After another outstanding season in Sweden, Vancouver Canucks prospect Jonathan Dahlen is on his way to the Utica Comets to help in their postseason run. Utica has three games remaining before the end of the regular season, but have already secured a playoff spot in the Eastern Conference.
Dahlen, 20, was acquired last season from the Ottawa Senators in exchange for Alexandre Burrows, and has done nothing but impress since. After scoring 44 points in 45 games last season for Timra in the Swedish second league, he matched that total in one fewer game this time around. That was good for second in the entire league, and his 14 playoff points led all Allsvenskan skaters.
Selected 42nd overall in 2016, Dahlen is a legitimate top-six forward prospect that could contribute to Vancouver’s offense sooner than later. His creativity with the puck and goal scoring ability makes him dangerous from anywhere in the offensive zone, and can find opportunities where others may not. Though somewhat undersized—unlike his father, long-time NHL player Ulf Dahlen who stood 6’2″—he gets quite a bit of power in his shot and can almost always find space to unload it.
The young forward might need a whole year (or more) in the AHL before really making an impact in Vancouver, but he’ll get a chance to turn some heads over the next few weeks. If he jumps right into the action with Utica—who have had trouble scoring goals at times this season, relying on Thatcher Demko to steal games for them—there is no reason to think he won’t be able to produce offense at good clip.
I’m sure Ottawa is thrilled to have Burrows instead…