# Kjell Dahlin

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 | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Playoffs | Playoffs | Playoffs | Playoffs | Playoffs |
| Season | Team | League | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM |
| 1978–79 | Timrå IK | SWE II | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 1979–80 | Timrå IK | SWE II | 14 | 4 | 1 | 5 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 1980–81 | Timrå IK | SWE II | 25 | 7 | 12 | 19 | 16 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 1981–82 | Timrå IK | SEL | 36 | 16 | 7 | 23 | 14 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 1982–83 | Färjestad BK | SEL | 32 | 10 | 8 | 18 | 2 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| 1983–84 | Färjestad BK | SEL | 36 | 19 | 9 | 28 | 16 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 1984–85 | Färjestad BK | SEL | 35 | 21 | 25 | 46 | 10 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 0 |
| 1985–86 | Montreal Canadiens | NHL | 77 | 32 | 39 | 71 | 71 | 16 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 4 |
| 1986–87 | Montreal Canadiens | NHL | 41 | 12 | 8 | 20 | 0 | 8 | 2 | 4 | 6 | 0 |
| 1987–88 | Montreal Canadiens | NHL | 48 | 13 | 12 | 25 | 6 | 11 | 2 | 4 | 6 | 2 |
| 1988–89 | Färjestad BK | SEL | 37 | 23 | 20 | 43 | 24 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 1989–90 | Färjestad BK | SEL | 30 | 26 | 12 | 38 | 12 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 1990–91 | Färjestad BK | SEL | 31 | 9 | 8 | 17 | 14 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 1991–92 | Färjestad BK | SEL | 25 | 6 | 10 | 16 | 10 | 6 | 4 | 1 | 5 | 4 |
| 1992–93 | Färjestad BK | SEL | 36 | 4 | 8 | 12 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 4 |
| 1993–94 | Färjestad BK | SEL | 16 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 1993–94 | Färjestad BK | Allsv | 8 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 1993–94 | Grums IK | SWE II | 4 | 0 | 5 | 5 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — |
| SWE II totals | SWE II totals | SWE II totals | 45 | 11 | 18 | 29 | 16 | — | — | — | — | — |
| SEL totals | SEL totals | SEL totals | 314 | 134 | 108 | 242 | 106 | 21 | 9 | 2 | 11 | 10 |
| NHL totals | NHL totals | NHL totals | 166 | 57 | 59 | 116 | 77 | 35 | 6 | 11 | 17 | 6 |

### International

| Year | Team | Event | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM |
| 1980 | Sweden | EJC | 5 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 1981 | Sweden | EJC | 5 | 4 | 5 | 9 | 4 |
| 1982 | Sweden | WJC | 7 | 5 | 1 | 6 | 4 |
| 1983 | Sweden | WJC | 7 | 3 | 4 | 7 | 2 |
| Junior totals | Junior totals | Junior totals | 24 | 13 | 10 | 23 | 10 |