Vancouver Canucks top prospects of week 26: Demko, Dahlen, Gadjovich

No. 2 – LW Jonathan Dahlén (Utica Comets, AHL)

Of the many debuts on the Utica Comets this season, Jonathan Dahlén is the most intriguing. For those who have not had the chance to watch him in person, he plays a North-South game and is not afraid to play through the middle of the ice.

Most people fear for the transition between Europe and North America because the ice surface is smaller. There is less room on the ice and the speed difference between the AHL and the Allsvenskan is huge.

However, with his style of play, it does not surprise me that Dahlén is making the adjustment quite quickly. In two games this week, Dahlén scored a goal. He could have easily had a second one, but it turned into an assist. Dahlén was the first star of the night. Even though he was pointless in his first game, he was very dangerous in limited shifts.

It is worth noting that the Comets were playing the lowly Binghamton Devils, but the work he is doing out there is still impressive. Dahlén has incredible instincts around the net. What I like about the AHL is that the size disparity is not as severe as the NHL. He will have to continue to get stronger, but early returns are good for the young winger.

I like how much smoother his skating his. Dahlén used to have this bizarre and choppy stride that looked awkward, but allowed him to move quickly. He is going to be a fun player to watch.