Ulf Dahlen is a retired Swedish ice hockey player who had a successful career in the National Hockey League (NHL) and the Swedish Hockey League (SHL). He was born on January 21, 1967, in Ostersund, Sweden, and began his professional career in 1984 with the Swedish team Ostersunds IK.
Dahlen was drafted by the New York Rangers in the second round of the 1985 NHL Entry Draft. He made his NHL debut in the 1987-88 season and played for the Rangers for four seasons. He then played for the Minnesota North Stars, Dallas Stars, San Jose Sharks, Chicago Blackhawks, and Washington Capitals over the course of his 16-year NHL career.
Dahlen was known for his versatility as a forward and his ability to play both center and wing positions. He was also a skilled scorer and playmaker, with a career total of 301 goals and 354 assists in 966 NHL games. He was a consistent performer throughout his career, scoring at least 20 goals in eight different seasons and recording over 50 points in nine different seasons.
Dahlen's best season came in 1992-93 when he scored 35 goals and 44 assists for the North Stars. He was also a key player for the Dallas Stars during their run to the Stanley Cup Final in 1999, scoring 10 goals and 10 assists in 23 playoff games.
In addition to his NHL career, Dahlen also played for the Swedish national team in several international tournaments, including the 1998 Winter Olympics in Nagano, Japan. He won a silver medal with Sweden at the 1995 World Championships and a bronze medal at the 1994 World Championships.
After retiring from playing in 2003, Dahlen began a coaching career. He served as an assistant coach for the Swedish national team from 2006 to 2010 and then became the head coach of the Swedish team AIK in the SHL. He also coached the Swiss team HC Lugano and the Swedish team Timra IK before returning to AIK in 2019.
Overall, Ulf Dahlen had a successful and productive career as a professional ice hockey player. He was a skilled scorer and playmaker who played for several NHL teams and represented Sweden in international competition. He has also had a successful coaching career, continuing to contribute to the sport he loves.
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