LATEST | Patrik Allvin identifies his big surprise of the 2022-2023 campaign

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Felip Gosselin
May 21, 2023 (4:57 PM)

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While the Canucks' 2022-2023 campaign was nowhere near as good as expected, if fair to say that some good came out of it no matter what. From Elias Pettersson's break out to stardom, Quinn Hughes' dominant season, to the good UFA signings the new management pulled. Ilya Mikheyev, even though he suffered a season-ending injury, Andrei Kuzmenko who was dominant offensively, but also Nils Aman, who literally come out of nowhere.

Aman who was first drafted by the Colorado Avalanche in 2020, but never signed, was a heck of a find for Allvin and Rutherford. The Swede is currently in the mold of becoming a top-end bottom 6 forward in the NHL. Allvin pulled him out of the SHL (The top professional league in Sweden), where he collected a shallow 14 points in 51 games. In an interview he gave to a Swede journal, Allvin revealed he was quite proud of how things turned out for Aman:

''He was my big surprise. It was not intended that he would take a place in the team immediately. He had an amazingly good training camp, has since continued on that track, and has shown that he wants to be there and fight for the places. I'm impressed with his season. He had a little dip, which is normal for the Europeans who come over there.''

Aman was sent down for a little visit in Abbotsford so he could have the opportunity to perfect his game for 17 games, he was then called back up and never looked back:

''He was sent down to learn how to have a little more puck. Then he came up and had a straight "stretch" with the new coaches. The same thing with Nils, if he has a strong summer and becomes more persistent, he has the chance to take another step.''

Aman was a key part of the penalty kill's success once Tocchet and his new structure took over. It's fair to say he'll be an important piece of the Canucks bottom, most likely the 4th line as Allvin continues his search for a pivot on his third unit. With Tocchet and his staff's help, can Aman become a top-end shutdown centerman?

SOURCE: Hockey Sverige