Kjell Dahlin
Encyclopedia
Kjell Dahlin is a retired professional ice hockey
forward. He played for the Montreal Canadiens
in the NHL
in the mid 1980s.
in the 4th round as the 82nd pick overall. Dahlin played in Sweden until 1985 when he joined the Montreal Canadiens
.
In his first season in the NHL he played 77 games and scored 32 goals and 71 points, tying a club record for points by a rookie
that was set by countryman and teammate Mats Näslund
and also setting a club rookie goals record. His point total made him the top scoring rookie that season but an outstanding year by first year defenceman Gary Suter
kept Dahlin from capturing the rookie of the year honors, though he was named to the NHL All-Rookie Team
. However, Dahlin won something much greater that spring when the Canadiens surprised many by winning the Stanley Cup
in 1986. Despite his scoring ways during the regular season, Dahlin was held to just 2 goals and 5 points in the playoffs. It was a sign of things to come.
In his second season injuries limited Dahlin to just 41 games and his point total dropped to 20. In 1987–88, Dahlin's third year, injuries again limited him as he played just 48 games this time scoring 25 points.
, the Swedish Elite League
club team he spent three seasons with before joining Montreal. Dahlin played six seasons with them then retired from the game in 1994.
Dahlin only played 11 games with the Swedish national team, and never played with them in any big tournament.
Ice hockey
Ice hockey, often referred to as hockey, is a team sport played on ice, in which skaters use wooden or composite sticks to shoot a hard rubber puck into their opponent's net. The game is played between two teams of six players each. Five members of each team skate up and down the ice trying to take...
forward. He played for the Montreal Canadiens
Montreal Canadiens
The Montreal Canadiens are a professional ice hockey team based in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . The club is officially known as ...
in the NHL
National Hockey League
The National Hockey League is an unincorporated not-for-profit association which operates a major professional ice hockey league of 30 franchised member clubs, of which 7 are currently located in Canada and 23 in the United States...
in the mid 1980s.
NHL
Dahlin was drafted by the Canadiens in 19811981 NHL Entry Draft
The 1981 NHL Entry Draft was held at the Montreal Forum in Montreal, Quebec. The National Hockey League teams selected 211 players eligible for entry into professional ranks, in the reverse order of the 1980–81 NHL season and playoff standings. This is the list of those players...
in the 4th round as the 82nd pick overall. Dahlin played in Sweden until 1985 when he joined the Montreal Canadiens
Montreal Canadiens
The Montreal Canadiens are a professional ice hockey team based in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . The club is officially known as ...
.
In his first season in the NHL he played 77 games and scored 32 goals and 71 points, tying a club record for points by a rookie
Rookie
Rookie is a term for a person who is in his or her first year of play of their sport or has little or no professional experience. The term also has the more general meaning of anyone new to a profession, training or activity Rookie is a term for a person who is in his or her first year of play of...
that was set by countryman and teammate Mats Näslund
Mats Näslund
Mats Näslund , nicknamed "Le Petit Viking", is a retired Swedish ice hockey player. He played as a left wing.-NHL career:...
and also setting a club rookie goals record. His point total made him the top scoring rookie that season but an outstanding year by first year defenceman Gary Suter
Gary Suter
Gary Lee Suter is a retired American professional ice hockey defenseman. He played his junior hockey for the Dubuque Fighting Saints, high school hockey at Culver Military Academy and then moved on to the University of Wisconsin–Madison...
kept Dahlin from capturing the rookie of the year honors, though he was named to the NHL All-Rookie Team
NHL All-Rookie Team
The NHL All-Rookie Team is chosen by the Professional Hockey Writers' Association from the best rookies in the National Hockey League at each position for the season just concluded based on their performance in that year...
. However, Dahlin won something much greater that spring when the Canadiens surprised many by winning the Stanley Cup
Stanley Cup
The Stanley Cup is an ice hockey club trophy, awarded annually to the National Hockey League playoffs champion after the conclusion of the Stanley Cup Finals. It has been referred to as The Cup, Lord Stanley's Cup, The Holy Grail, or facetiously as Lord Stanley's Mug...
in 1986. Despite his scoring ways during the regular season, Dahlin was held to just 2 goals and 5 points in the playoffs. It was a sign of things to come.
In his second season injuries limited Dahlin to just 41 games and his point total dropped to 20. In 1987–88, Dahlin's third year, injuries again limited him as he played just 48 games this time scoring 25 points.
Back to Sweden
With diminishing returns and bad luck on the injury front, Dahlin opted to return to Sweden for the 1988–89 campaign. Dahlin rejoined Färjestads BKFärjestads BK
Färjestads Bollklubb is a Swedish professional ice hockey team based in Karlstad. Färjestad has had 18 Swedish Championship final appearances, winning nine times since Elitserien was started in 1975. The team plays in the highest Swedish league, and have done so since 1965...
, the Swedish Elite League
Elitserien
Elitserien, is a professional ice hockey league composed of twelve teams in Sweden...
club team he spent three seasons with before joining Montreal. Dahlin played six seasons with them then retired from the game in 1994.
Dahlin only played 11 games with the Swedish national team, and never played with them in any big tournament.
