Kjell Dahlin Explained

Played For:Timrå IK
Färjestads BK
Montreal Canadiens
Position:Right wing
Shoots:Left
Height Ft:6
Height In:0
Weight Lb:174
Birth Date:2 March 1963
Birth Place:Timrå, Sweden
Draft:82nd overall
Draft Year:1981
Draft Team:Montreal Canadiens
Career Start:1981
Career End:1994

Kjell Håkan Dahlin (born 2 March 1963) is a Swedish former professional ice hockey forward. He played for the Montreal Canadiens in the NHL in the mid-1980s.

NHL

Dahlin was drafted by the Montreal Canadiens in 1981 in the fourth round as the 82nd pick overall. Dahlin played in Sweden until 1985 when he joined the Canadiens.

In his first season in the NHL, he played 77 games. He scored 32 goals and 71 points, tying a club record for points by a rookie that fellow countryman and teammate Mats Näslund set and also setting a club rookie goals record. His point total made him the top scoring rookie that season but an outstanding season by first-year defenceman Gary Suter kept Dahlin from capturing the rookie of the year honors. However, he was named to the NHL All-Rookie Team. Despite his impressive points total during the regular season, Dahlin was held to just two goals and five points in the playoffs which saw the Canadiens go on to win the Stanley Cup in 1986.

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 BK, 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 major tournament.

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

  Regular season Playoffs
SeasonTeamLeagueGPGAPtsPIMGPGAPtsPIM
1978–79Timrå IKSWE II20000
1979–80Timrå IKSWE II144150
1980–81Timrå IKSWE II257121916
1981–82Timrå IKSEL361672314
1982–83Färjestad BKSEL3210818270002
1983–84Färjestad BKSEL361992816
1984–85Färjestad BKSEL352125461032130
1985–86Montreal CanadiensNHL7732397171162354
1986–87Montreal CanadiensNHL4112820082460
1987–88Montreal CanadiensNHL481312256112462
1988–89Färjestad BKSEL372320432421010
1989–90Färjestad BKSEL3026123812
1990–91Färjestad BKSEL31981714
1991–92Färjestad BKSEL25610161064154
1992–93Färjestad BKSEL364812432024
1993–94Färjestad BKSEL160110
1993–94Färjestad BKAllsv81010
1993–94Grums IKSWE II40550
SWE II totals4511182916
SEL totals31413410824210621921110
NHL totals16657591167735611176

International

YearTeamEvent GPGAPtsPIM
1980SwedenEJC51010
1981SwedenEJC54594
1982SwedenWJC75164
1983SwedenWJC73472
Junior totals2413102310

External links