Isak Rosén opened the season with an opportunity to make an impression in the Winnipeg Jets’ top six, skating alongside Viggo Björck and Gabriel Vilardi.
Six games into his NHL season, the early signs suggest he’s getting more comfortable with every shift.
Rosén has spent the last two games skating with Adam Lowry and Alex Iafallo, a line that comes with a different set of responsibilities.
“I think we’re checking way more,” Rosén said.
“We’re trying to get it deep and maybe make one more simple play to just get it down there and forecheck. I think we’re doing a good job with that.”
The results have been encouraging. According to Natural Stat Trick, the trio has generated four scoring chances at five-on-five while allowing just one against over the last two games. That’s a small sample size, but it’s a good indication that the line is doing its job at both ends of the ice.
For Rosén, it’s also about understanding where he fits alongside two veteran forwards.
“I think just they’re easy to play with and easy to read,” he said.
“You know what they want to do. They will be at the net. They will win a lot of battles, and, yeah, it’s easy to play with them.”
That familiarity appears to be helping Rosén play with a little more confidence. The 23-year-old said his game has improved with each outing, particularly over the last two games, when he’s made a point of using his biggest asset: his skating.
“I think the last two games I really showed what I can do and what I want to do every game,” Rosén said.
“Just have my feet going and create with my skating, so, yeah, better and better.”
He’s also looking to shoot more. With Lowry and Iafallo doing the heavy lifting around the net, the young Swede recognizes that he needs to get pucks on goal and take advantage of the opportunities that come his way.
“I think when I play with Al and Low, I think I’m the shooter there on the line,” he said.
“It just makes it easy to just try to get it to the net.”
The goals haven’t come yet, but Rosén believes it’s only a matter of time if he continues to play the right way.
“I think probably should be on the score sheet already, but it’s gonna come if I keep stacking up good shifts and good games,” he said.
Rosén and the Jets are in Chicago tomorrow for a battle with the Blackhawks.
