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Rasmus Dahlin was the most rewritten rookie of the NHL season. The 18-year-old from Trollhättan has become the first Swede to be named number one in the NHL draft since Mats Sundin. After experiencing a stable start this season, he has become one of the favorites to win Calder Throphy this year 's best newcomer to the NHL.
However, he faces fierce competition from Elias Pettersson.
Pettersson was recruited a year before Dahlin and last year he won the SM Gold with Växjö. He has also been hailed as best newcomer, best striker and MVP of SHL.
Now he has also stormed the NHL and after scoring 17 points in his first 11 games, including 10, US journalists began comparing him with Wayne Gretzky himself.
On Saturday, the Swedish super talent will fight for the first time in the NHL.
"They're great hockey players, they're smart and they act instinctively, they use their abilities on the ice and that makes them both exceptional," said Buffalo coach Phil Housley. at Buffalo News.
Elias Pettersson: "Play as an attacker"
However, it's far from the first time that Dahlin and Pettersson are playing on the same ice. Last year, Dahlins Frölunda and Växjö of Pettersson were rivals in SHL. They also played together during the FMV.
– I know he's skilled. It will be fun to watch him play. He obviously had a cruel start. I'm not surprised It'll be fun, says Rasmus Dahlin at Buffalo News.
Even Elias Pettersson praised the merits of his opponent, but admits that he would have preferred to have Dahlin on his team.
"He's good on the defensive and he sometimes plays as an attacker … he contributes a lot to his team and it's of course harder to play against him than to have him on the same team." he says.
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