Rookie Watch: Raymond, Dahlen among top five Sweden-born scorers

The impact several rookies are making on the NHL is one of the major storylines of the 2021-22 season. Each week, NHL.com will examine topics related to this season's class in the Rookie Watch.
This week, a look at the top five scorers among Sweden-born rookies:

Lucas Raymond, F, Detroit Red Wings: The 19-year-old native of Gothenberg (5-foot-11, 182 pounds) is second among all NHL rookies and first from Sweden with 19 goals and 47 points in 62 games. Raymond, the No. 4 pick in the 2020 NHL Draft, is averaging 18:13 of ice time and is first among Sweden-born rookies with 49 hits while playing on Detroit's top line with center Dylan Larkin and right wing Tyler Bertuzzi. In a 6-3 win against the Chicago Blackhawks on Oct. 24, Raymond scored his first NHL hat trick and became the second teenager to get one in Red Wings history, joining Steve Yzerman, who did it twice (Dec. 23, 1983, and March 30, 1985). The same game, he also became the third Red Wings teenager with a four-point game, joining Yzerman (Dec. 23, 1983) and Gordie Howe (Dec. 17, 1947).
"As a young guy, he's really mature. He's a good pro, he knows that he's got to take care of his body," Detroit coach Jeff Blashill said. "He knows he's got to get rest, he's worked hard at that. He's worked with our sports science staff to try to put himself in the best position possible. He's done a pretty good job mentally. I think he's a mentally tough, young guy."

Jonathan Dahlen, F, San Jose Sharks:The 24-year-old is second among Sweden-born rookies with 22 points (12 goals, 10 assists) and tied for first (Raymond) with 18 takeaways in 51 games. The native of Ostersund has scored three power-play goals and is averaging 14:22 of ice time playing on a line with center Logan Couture and right wing Timo Meier. The son of retired NHL forward Ulf Dahlen, Jonathan (5-11, 180) was selected by the Ottawa Senators in the second round (No. 42) of the 2016 NHL Draft and acquired by San Jose in a trade with the Vancouver Canucks for forward prospect Linus Karlsson on Feb. 25, 2019. Last season, Dahlen scored 71 points (25 goals, 46 assists) in 45 games with Timra IK and was named forward of the year (for the second straight season) and most valuable player in HockeyAllsvenskan, Sweden's second-highest professional division.

Timothy Liljegren, D, Toronto Maple Leafs:The right-shot defenseman, chosen No. 17 in the 2017 NHL Draft, leads all Sweden-born players with a plus-10 rating, is second with 16 assists and third with 17 points in 44 games. Born in Kristianstad, Liljegren has averaged 15:57 of ice time and is physical; he's first among his countrymen with 44 blocked shots, second with 48 hits, and third with 14 takeaways. The 22-year-old (6-1, 192) had an NHL career-high four-game point streak, all assists, March 5-10. The Maple Leafs control 56.6 percent of all shots attempted 5-on-5 when Liljegren is on the ice, best among Sweden-born NHL rookies, and he ranks third (minimum 15 games) in on-ice goals-for percentage at even strength (56.5) behind Washington Capitals forward Axel Jonsson-Fjallby (75.0) and New York Rangers defenseman Nils Lundkvist (59.0).

Jacob Peterson, F, Dallas Stars: A fifth-round pick (No. 132) in the 2017 NHL Draft, Peterson is third among Sweden-born, first-year players with 10 goals and fourth with 14 points in 50 games. The 22-year-old, born in Lindkoping, is fourth among Sweden first-year forwards with 19 blocked shots and 18 hits. Peterson (6-1, 180) averages 11:14 of ice time in a fourth-line role with center Tyler Seguin and right wing Luke Glendening. He leads his rookie countrymen with four game-winning goals.
"He's not your typical rookie," Seguin said. "I went to kind of help him and he didn't need my help. You don't see that too often. Realizing he's 22 years old, he's played pro already over in Sweden, he's going to be a heck of a hockey player."

Sebastian Aho, D, New York Islanders:The 26-year-old (5-11, 184), chosen in the fifth round (No. 139) of the 2017 NHL Draft, is fifth among Sweden-born players with nine points (all assists) and second in average ice time (17:12) in 25 games. Born in Umea, Aho ranks second among his rookie countrymen (minimum 10 games) in blocked shots per 60 minutes (4.46). He played three full seasons with Skelleftea of the Swedish Hockey League and became the first defenseman in the history of Bridgeport of the American Hockey League to score three goals in a game against Providence on Nov. 5, 2017.
"You can't play at a high level, you can't keep improving unless you have a really good attitude," New York coach Barry Trotz said in October. "I think that's where it starts with Sebastian. I mean real good attitude, it starts there. He's got a good work ethic and he's got a good hockey IQ. Those three things don't get in the way of his situation. He just continues to do what he needs to do so he's ready when we call upon him."