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Carl Dahlstrom is the first player to make this year’s Top 25 Under 25 list with some NHL experience. The left-handed defenseman played in 11 games for Chicago after establishing himself in the AHL the past two seasons. With one year left on his current contract, he’ll have to raise his game again amongst a crowded defensive prospect pool.
Key information
Position: Left-handed defenseman
Birth date: Jan. 28, 1995 (age 23)
Acquired via: Second-round pick (No. 51 overall) in 2013
Most recent stop: Rockford — AHL
Size: 6‘4, 231 pounds
Contract: 1-year, $750,833
Breakdown
The 2016-17 campaign was a feeling out phase for Dahlstrom has he played his first full season in North America with the Rockford IceHogs in the AHL after being with Linköpings in the SHL. Dahlstrom performed well in his role, scoring six goals and 11 points in 70 games. He built on his success this season by scoring 23 points in 47 games prior to his call up when Jan Rutta was placed on injured reserve in early February.
Dahlstrom recorded three assists with a 52.9 Corsi For percentage and averaged 17 minutes, 31 seconds of ice time in 11 games with Chicago while being mainly paired with Connor Murphy. During his brief stint, Dahlstrom showed strong skating ability but didn’t use his size as much as he did in the AHL to separate players from the puck.
He had three consecutive solid games against Washington, Los Angeles and Ottawa, when he posted two assists. But he struggled mightily in San Jose.
Rough night for Carl Dahlstrom. The Sharks have scored four goals and accumulated 14 shots on net with him on the ice. He's the third Hawks defenseman to be on the ice four 5-on-5 goals in a game this season. None have been on for five.
— Scott Powers (@ByScottPowers) March 2, 2018
When he returned to Rockford, he posted five more points in 17 regular-season games before adding nine points in 13 Calder Cup playoff games.
“Coming up (with the Blackhawks), knowing that I can play with those guys, really helped my confidence.”
— Rockford IceHogs (@goicehogs) May 30, 2018
—Carl Dahlstrom exit interview pic.twitter.com/YHPDnGNaq6
What’s next in 2018-19?
Dahlstrom will return to the IceHogs and will have plenty of competition for playing time among other lefties: Gustav Forsling, Dennis Gilbert, Blake Hillman, Luc Snuggerud, Robin Norell and Joni Tuulola.