The Vancouver Canucks traded winger Alex Burrows to the Ottawa Senators in exchange for prospect forward Jonathan Dahlen. Here’s what to expect.
What have Vancouver Canucks fans wanted for a long time but never truly believed would happen? That’s right: a trade that acquires a promising prospect while shipping out an aging veteran.
That is exactly what the Canucks did yesterday, though, when they acquired Swedish forward Jonathan Dahlen from the Ottawa Senators.
We obviously have some mixed feelings about the trade, since Alexandre Burrows has become a fan favourite and franchise hero. However, excitement certainly outweighs the sadness, as the trade promises to be the much-needed first step toward a full-on rebuild.
Now that we are starting to settle down, it is time to take a closer look at the newest Vancouver Canuck.
The Draft Year
Dahlen was selected 42nd by the Senators at the 2016 NHL Entry Draft. Scouting services had him ranked between 27 and 51, and he was No. 51 on my top-60 list as well. So, his draft position seems close to the consensus.
In the 2015-16 season, Dahlen became a regular on Timra IK’s professional team in the second-tier Allsvenskan. He even led the team in scoring with 15 goals and 29 points in 51 games as a rookie.
In the Allsvenskan Qualification round, Dahlen added six goals and seven points in five games.
2016-17
This season, Dahlen had a true breakout year in Sweden. Through 44 games, the 19-year-old has 24 goals and 43 points, ranking first on his team and sixth in the league. Dahlen is tied for second in goals, and his average of .95 points per game ranks third in the league among players with at least 10 games played.
Comparing video footage from last season and this year, Dahlen looks like a much-improved player. He is not profiting from a bigger role with his club, but rather found ways to build upon it and excel in the role he was given.
In addition, Dahlen represented Sweden at the 2017 World Junior Championship and recorded five goals and six points in seven games.
If he continues to develop at his current pace, it shouldn’t be long before we see him in the North America.
Scouting Report
I talked to Swedish Future Considerations scout William Högberg, and here’s what he had to say about Dahlen:
"Creative, shifty player with impressive edgework. Excels both as a playmaker and goalscorer. Good hockey IQ, sees plays develop ahead of time. Doesn’t shy away from the rough areas and can play in traffic but obviously needs to gain strength and add an extra gear in his skating."
There is a reason why Dahlen was picked fairly early in the draft: he has incredible offensive talent.
But, there is also a reason why he wasn’t a first-round pick: his skating stride and strength.
Luckily, the tools Dahlen possesses are ones that are difficult to teach.
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Hockey sense, vision, awareness and anticipation are gifts rather than developed talent. It is possible to improve all of those things with coaching and watching video, but you won’t be able to teach a player how to see the game when the basis isn’t there.
The things Dahlen needs to work on, however, are relatively easy to achieve.
At 5-foot-11 and 180 pounds, it’s not about adding weight, but building strength and learning how to use it effectively. That is something that can be taught.
Second is Dahlen’s skating. He possesses excellent mobility and stands out with great edge work, but his stride is not particularly powerful and looks a bit choppy at times. NHL teams work with power skating coaches regularly, because it’s all about coaching. Again, mobility and agility are harder to teach than a clean, powerful stride.
ESPN prospect guru Corey Pronman believes Dahlen will rank third among Canucks prospects.
Outlook
So, overall, Dahlen is an extremely promising player and an incredible return for Burrows. Plus, we could see him in North America very soon.
Dahlen’s contract with Timra is set to expire at the end of this season. With that, he basically has two options, assuming he does not want to play in Sweden’s second division for another year.
One, Dahlen could move up to the top-tier SHL, as teams would love to get their hands on a young scorer like him.
Next: Dahlen Trade Brings Instant Excitement
Second, Dahlen could come over to North America and play for the AHL Utica Comets or even the Canucks next season.
The most likely scenario will be for him to join the Comets and make his AHL debut there in October. But you never know, a strong training camp could take him a long way, and the Canucks’ roster is not expected to be outstanding next season.