San Jose Sharks
Preview/Lines #1: Dahlen About to Make Sharks History
Jonathan Dahlen is about to make San Jose Sharks history.
When Dahlen makes his NHL debut versus the Winnipeg Jets tonight, he will be part of the first father-son duo to play for the San Jose Sharks.
Ulf Dahlen enjoyed a memorable run in teal from 1994 to 1997, potting 41 goals in 164 games and starring in two surprise playoff runs.
Current San Jose Sharks head coach Bob Boughner actually played against the elder Dahlen:
“Guy was tough to play against,” Boughner recalled. “Heavy on the puck — and so is Jonny. He’s got the same move, when he goes wide, he’s constantly got his feet doing the same thing as dad did. It’s amazing actually when you look at it.”
Jonathan Dahlen is close to his father and very aware of his history in San Jose. During training camp, the 1997-born even visited his parents’ old house in San Jose. So the moment is certainly not lost on the 23-year-old.
“Everybody was excited. Obviously, mom, dad, sister, relatives, friends, everybody’s excited for me. So very, very happy,” Dahlen said of the news that he had made the Sharks’ opening night roster. “It’s been a long way here. A lot of ups and downs. But hard work, working hard these past couple years.”
Dahlen was drafted by Ottawa in the second round in 2016, a prized Canucks prospect before a falling out with management, and has spent the last two seasons in second-division Swedish hockey getting his hometown club Timra IK back to the SHL.
“It feels like I’m older than I am,” he admitted. “But I’m 23 and here, ready to play. I’m really excited.”
Something else that excites him? The prospect, actually, of playing the Vancouver Canucks. It won’t just be a revenge game for him – it’ll be a chance to play against good friend Elias Pettersson.
So October 16th is important to Jonathan Dahlen — but so is December 16th.
Today is the San Jose Sharks’ season opener and Dahlen’s NHL debut — Dec. 16 could be Dahlen and good friend Elias Pettersson’s first game against each other.
“We were looking at the schedule and saw the games against each other are pretty far away,” Dahlen said. “I said I’ll have to try and hold on and play well so we can play against each other.
“That would be so fun playing against him, meet up, maybe have a dinner the night before.”
San Jose Sharks
The first #SJSharks game of the season starts today!
William Eklund makes his debut!
LOUD NOISES
Missed our #GoJetsGo preview? Catch up here:https://t.co/wmyWBR90aU pic.twitter.com/wKk2h958dR
— The Content Boyz (@LockedOnSharks) October 16, 2021
Winnipeg Jets
The Jets are currently skating, this will be updated soon, but the big news is Mark Scheifele will be making his season debut tonight:
Line rushes
Connor-Scheifele-Wheeler
Copp-Dubois-Ehlers
Stastny-Lowry-Perfetti
Vesalainen-Nash-Harkins-Svechnikov (three rotating through)I haven't seen Perfetti rotate into that fourth line group yet.
— Murat Ates (@WPGMurat) October 15, 2021
Where to Watch
Puck drop against Winnipeg is 7:00 PM PT at SAP Center. Watch it live on NBC Sports Bay Area and ESPN+. Listen to it on the Sharks Audio Network.
