Rookie Watch: Raymond, Dahlen among the top five Sweden-born goal scorers
The impact that several rookies make on the NHL is one of the most important actions during the 2021-22 season. Each week, NHL.com will examine topics related to this season’s Rookie Watch class.
This week, a look at the five best goal scorers among Swedish-born rookies:
Lucas RaymondF, Detroit Red Wings: The 19-year-old from Gothenburg (5 feet-11, 182 pounds) is second among all NHL rookies and one from Sweden with 19 goals and 47 points in 62 games. Raymond, number 4 in the 2020 NHL draft, has an average of 18:13 ice time and is first among Sweden-born rookies with 49 hits while playing on Detroit’s top line with center Dylan Larkin and the right edge Tyler Bertuzzi. In a 6-3 victory over the Chicago Blackhawks on October 24, Raymond made his first NHL hat-trick and became the second teenager to get one in Red Wings history, along with Steve Yzerman, who did it twice (December 23, 1983, and 30 March 1985). In the same match, he also became the third Red Wings teenager with a four-point match, joining Yzerman (December 23, 1983) and Gordie Howe (December 17, 1947).
“As a young guy, he’s really mature. He’s a good pro, he knows he has to take care of his body,” said Detroit coach Jeff Blashill. “He knows he has to rest, he’s worked hard on it. He’s worked with our sports science staff to try to put himself in the best possible position. He’s done a pretty good job mentally. I think he’s a mentally tough guy. , young guy .”
Video: IT @ EDM: Raymond sends puck in the open network
Jonathan DahlenF, San Jose Sharks: The 24-year-old is second among Sweden-born rookies with 22 points (12 goals, 10 assists) and a draw in first place (Raymond) with 18 takeaways in 51 matches. Östersundaren has scored three powerplay goals and has an average of 14:22 ice time when he plays in line with the middle. Logan Couture and the right edge Timo Meier. Son of retired NHL forward Ulf Dahlen, Jonathan (5-11, 180) was selected by the Ottawa Senators in the second round (No. 42) of the 2016 NHL draft and acquired by San Jose in an exchange with the Vancouver Canucks for forward prospect Linus Karlsson on 25 February 2019. Last season, Dahlen scored 71 points (25 goals, 46 assists) in 45 matches with Timra IK and was named forward of the year (for the second straight season) and most valuable player in the Hockey Allsvenskan, Sweden’s second highest professional division.
Video: LAK @ SJS: Dahlen scores goals on turnover
Timothy LiljegrenD, Toronto Maple Leafs: The right-back, selected as number 17 in the 2017 NHL draft, leads all Sweden-born players with a plus-10 rating, is second with 16 assists and third with 17 points in 44 games. Born in Kristianstad, Liljegren has averaged 15:57 ice age and is physical; he is first among his countrymen with 44 blocked shots, second with 48 hits and third with 14 takeaways. The 22-year-old (6-1, 192) had an NHL career-high four-game scoring streak, all assists, March 5-10. Maple Leafs controls 56.6 percent of all shots made 5-on-5 when Liljegren is on the ice, best among Sweden-born NHL rookies, and he is ranked third (at least 15 games) in goals on the ice – in percent on even strength (56.5) behind Washington Capitals forward Axel Jonsson-Fjallby (75.0) and New York Rangers defender Nils Lundkvist (59.0).
Video: TOR @ STL: Liljegren hammers in his first NHL goal
Jacob PetersonF, Dallas Stars: Peterson, who was selected in the fifth round (No. 132) in the 2017 NHL draft, is third among Sweden-born first-year players with 10 goals and four with 14 points in 50 games. The 22-year-old, born in Lindköping, is four among Swedish first-year forwards with 19 blocked shots and 18 hits. Peterson (6-1, 180) has an average of 11:14 ice time in a quarter-line role with center Tyler Seguin and the right edge Luke Glendening. He leads his beginners with four match-winning goals.
“He’s not your typical rookie,” Seguin said. “I went to kind of help him and he did not need my help. You do not see that so often. When he realizes that he is 22 years old, he has played professionals already in Sweden, he will be a fucking hockey player.”
Video: DAL @ NYI: Peterson scores in the 3rd period
Sebastian AhoD, New York Islanders: The 26-year-old (5-11, 184), selected in the fifth round (No. 139) of the 2017 NHL draft, is fifth among Sweden-born players with nine points (all assists) and second in average ice time (17:12) at 25 matches. Born in Umeå, Aho ranks second among his beginners (at least 10 matches) in blocked shots per 60 minutes (4.46). He played three full seasons with Skellefteå in the Swedish Hockey League and became the first defender in Bridgeport’s history in the American Hockey League to score three goals in a match against Providence on 5 November 2017.
“You can not play at a high level, you can not continue to improve if you do not have a really good attitude,” New York coach Barry Trotz said in October. “I think that’s where it starts with Sebastian. I mean really good attitude, it starts there. He has a good work ethic and he has a good hockey IQ. The three things do not stand in the way of his situation. He just keeps going. to do what he needs to do so he is ready when we call on him. “