Rookie Watch: Dahlen among first-year players thriving after trades

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.
With the NHL Trade Deadline seven days away, NHL.com this week looks at six NHL rookies who have benefitted from a trade (listed alphabetically).

Jonathan Dahlen, F, San Jose Sharks: The 24-year-old (5-foot-11, 180 pounds) is tied for 14th among NHL rookies with 22 points (12 goals, 10 assists) and tied for 17th with 16 takeaways in 48 games. Dahlen has scored three power-play goals and is averaging 14:27 of ice time playing on a line with center Logan Couture and right wing Timo Meier. The son of former NHL forward Ulf Dahlen, Jonathan was selected by the Ottawa Senators in the second round (No. 42) of the 2016 NHL Draft and acquired by San Jose from Vancouver for forward prospect Linus Karlsson on Feb. 25, 2019. Last season, he 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.
Sean Durzi, D, Los Angeles Kings: Durzi (6-0, 195) is third among rookie defensemen with nine power-play points (one goal, eight assists) in 43 games. He averages 2:03 of ice time on the power play, ranks second among rookie defensemen with 19 power-play shots, and fourth with 17 points while averaging 18:01 of ice time alongside defense partner Tobias Bjornfot. The 23-year-old was selected by the Toronto Maple Leafs in the second round (No. 52) of the 2018 NHL Draft and traded to Los Angeles with forward Carl Grundstrom and a first-round pick in the 2019 draft (Bjornfot) for defenseman Jake Muzzin on Jan. 28, 2019. He had one goal and one assist in his NHL debut Nov. 24, 2021, and scored four points (one goal, three assists) in his first three NHL games.
MacKenzie Entwistle, F, Chicago Blackhawks: Entwistle (6-3, 184) has been a solid net-front presence when in the lineup for the Blackhawks, scoring 11 points (five goals, six assists) and averaging 10:40 of ice time in 42 games. The 22-year-old was selected in the third round (No. 69) by the Arizona Coyotes in the 2017 NHL Draft and acquired by Chicago in a trade with the Coyotes on July 12, 2018. Entwistle signed a two-year contract extension on Aug. 18 to remain with the Blackhawks through the 2023-24 season.
"He plays the right way, that north-south game, [and] he hangs around the net a little more," Chicago coach Derek King said. "That skill level of his, his hands around the net, they're going to pay off for him."
Peyton Krebs, F, Buffalo Sabres: Krebs (6-0, 185) was selected No. 17 by the Vegas Golden Knights in the 2019 NHL Draft and has scored 14 points (six goals, eight assists) in 35 games with the Sabres and Golden Knights while averaging 15:05 of ice time. Buffalo acquired forwards Krebs and Alex Tuch, a top-10 protected 2022 first-round pick, and a 2023 second-round pick from Vegas in exchange for forward Jack Eichel and a 2023 third-round pick on Nov. 4, 2021. If the Golden Knights select in the top 10, the first-round pick in 2022 becomes an unprotected first-round pick in 2023. Krebs scored a goal in a 3-1 win against the Golden Knights on March 11. The 21-year-old spent three previous seasons as captain for Winnipeg of the Western Hockey League and was named the WHL's Player of the Year in 2020-21 after leading the league in assists (30) and points (43) in 24 games.
"I've got some skill, for sure, that I try to utilize," Krebs said. "My hockey IQ, I try to utilize that to make plays. Being not a taller guy but not a smaller guy, I think just playing smart in all areas of the rink."
Alex Nedeljkovic, G, Detroit Red Wings: Nedeljkovic (6-0, 203) was acquired by the Red Wings from the Carolina Hurricanes on July 22 in a trade for the rights to goalie Jonathan Bernier, who signed with the New Jersey Devils as an unrestricted free agent, and a third-round pick in the 2021 NHL Draft (defenseman Aidan Hreschuk). The 26-year-old leads all NHL rookie goalies in shots faced (1,258) and total saves (1,133) and is second in wins (15) and first in games started (38); he has a 3.23 goals-against average and .901 save percentage in 42 games with the Red Wings. Nedeljkovic was a finalist for the Calder Trophy, which goes to the NHL rookie of the year as voted by the Professional Hockey Writers' Association, after he was 15-5-3 with a 1.90 goals-against average, a .932 save percentage and three shutouts for the Hurricanes last season, and is rookie eligible this season, too.
Dan Vladar, G, Calgary Flames: The 24-year-old (6-5, 185), acquired from the Boston Bruins in exchange for a 2022 third-round pick on July 28, has been a solid backup option for Jacob Markstrom this season. Vladar, who is 8-5-1 with a 2.90 GAA and .903 save percentage in 15 games (13 starts), was chosen in the third round (No. 75) by the Bruins of the 2015 NHL Draft.
"He's such a good teammate; great goaltender," Flames forward Johnny Gaudreau said. "He doesn't play all the time, but when he gets his opportunity to go in the net, he makes the most of it. He helps our team win games, he stops the puck and (is) just a real good goaltender."