THE NEW SWEDENESS
Jonathan Dahlen might just be the most talented scorer among the Canucks prospects
If you’re looking to forget about Nikita Tryamkin, a 19-year-old forward who just led a Swedish professional team in goals and points is a good start.
Jonathan Dahlen scored 25 goals in Sweden’s second division this season, and you can easily make the case that kind of output at that age puts him in the conversation for top prospect in the entire Canucks organization.
He has the kind of upside teams dream about acquiring when trading 30-something veterans on expiring contracts.
The Canucks did just that in what was GM Jim Benning’s finest week in Vancouver at the trade deadline. Benning unloaded Alex Burrows for one of the standout performers at the 2017 world juniors who instantly breathed a massive sigh of hope into what has been mostly shaky Canucks rebuild plans.
Just remember that the next time someone tells you the Canucks shouldn’t trade veterans, like, say, Chris Tanev. Because if Burrows gets you someone like Dahlen, just imagine the potential haul from dealing a top-pairing defenceman who currently has no trade restrictions.
The mind wanders. But that’s a story for another day.
Late last week, the Canucks officially signed Dahlen to a three-year deal, reportedly giving him the same out-clause Tryamkin had when it comes to the AHL.
For now, it seems unlikely because both the Canucks and Dahlen’s camp are prepared for him to get some seasoning in Utica this fall if he doesn’t make the NHL team, to help in his transition to North American-sized rinks.
Benning, by the way, doesn’t believe this is going to be a problem for the prolific goal-scorer. In fact, the Canucks have a hunch he’s going to look even better on smaller ice.
“His game is coming out of corners and living in and around the net,” Benning said. “On the big European ice, the corners are so deep, so he’ll be better on North American ice.”
Well, that’s something to be excited about.
Of course, the Canucks think Dahlen needs to “get stronger,” which is often the case with teenage prospects. Benning did describe the player, who is listed at 5-foot-11 and 180 pounds, as “thick.”
“His ability to score in and around the net is already good,” Benning said.
Dahlen compares favourably with Alex Nylander, the Buffalo Sabres winger drafted eighth overall last year who was second on TSN’s recent Top 50 NHL-affiliated prospects list.
The only thing that has muted the universal praise Dahlen gets among scouts is his skating.
“Yeah, that would be the thing he needs to continue to get better at,” Benning said.
“But I think from his draft year to this season, his skating has really picked up.
“As he gets physically stronger, it will just get better.”
Benning said Dahlen will be at the team’s summer development camp.
“Then he’s going to come to training camp,” Benning said.
“Ulf, his father, played in the NHL a long time, so he has a pretty good understanding of what he needs to do and where he’s at.
“He’s worked with Jonathan in his development and he still thinks he needs to get stronger.
“He’ll come to camp and we’ll see where he’s at. Whether he’s playing in Utica, or we loan him back to the Swedish league for one year, we’ll do what’s best for his development.”
Maybe the most interesting thing about all of this is that Dahlen is now considered a cornerstone of what people are calling “the next core.”
“If you look at where scoring is going to come from for us going forward, you look at Nikolay Goldobin, who has the skill and the ability to score, you look at Brock Boeser, who can score, and you look at Dahlen, who is a scorer, and (Adam) Gaudette has a good shot,” Benning said. “I feel good about the skill coming in.”
Funny thing is two of those “scoring four” players weren’t even in the organization a few months ago.
It’s almost like trading veterans for futures is a damn good idea for a rebuilding team.