Free agent winger Jonathan Dahlen is one of the more intriguing players still on the open market after a decent rookie campaign. But a suitable NHL contract hasn’t materialized and that has his old team calling as Johan Svensson and Adam Johansson of Sport-Expressen report that Timra has shown interest in bringing Dahlen back for a third stint with the organization while teams in Switzerland have also inquired about his willingness to go back overseas.
The 24-year-old played in 61 games with the Sharks last season, putting up 12 goals and 10 assists, decent numbers for his first taste of NHL action. However, with San Jose tight to the salary cap and Dahlen having arbitration eligibility, the team opted not to tender him a qualifying offer which made him an unrestricted free agent last month.
Svensson and Johansson report that a one-way NHL contract has yet to be offered despite Dahlen’s performance last season; that has likely resulted in him looking at other alternatives. A long-term offer is believed to be on its way in the coming days from Timra, the team he has had two previous stints with in their Allsvenskan days although they’ve since moved up to the SHL. Dahlen had a good first year in the NHL but it appears it might be his last campaign at the top level for a while.
Pretty silly … there are players a good bit worse than Dahlen making $2 MM AAV. You’d think a fellow of his age, experience — six year pro, after all — and production would get an offer.
Agree, a first season including 60+ games, mostly top-6 (i think) and 20+ points would atleast result in a one-way minimumcontract somewhere…
Minus 25
You might have a point there. But he was not the only one with bad +/- in Sharks last season…
This could also point to a rookie mistake by a rookie GM.