The kids are back in Sweden.
Vancouver Canucks prospects Melvin Fernström and Lucas Forsell saw SHL action today, and both found themselves contributing to the scoresheet.
For Melvin Fernström, this was his first SHL game since October 10th, after spending a few weeks down with the team’s junior squad. The 18-year-old drew into Örebro’s lineup on the third line, skating 10:51 of ice time.
In the third period, Fernström came off the bench, collected the puck in the slot, and fired a labelled snapshot off the crossbar and in for his second career SHL goal. Not bad for three seconds of ice time.
Melvin Fernström goes bardown for his second career SHL goal. #Canucks pic.twitter.com/fJ1cpjb6J4
— Dave Hall (@davehall1289) October 31, 2024
The tally proved to be the game-winner — his first game-winning goal in the SHL — and Fernström finished the game with a plus-1 rating, one hit and two shots on goal.
The young Canucks prospect has been maximizing his playing time by switching between the SHL and Örebro’s junior team throughout the season.
He now has two goals and three points as a rookie at the SHL level. In J20 action, Fernström has been impressive, operating at over a point-per-game pace with nine points (five goals, four assists) in eight games. While his average SHL ice time is limited at just 8:03 per game, he has made the most of his opportunities, contributing two goals, three points, and eight shots across eight games. Although his stat sheet mentions 11, three of them were spent as a substitute.
Meanwhile, in Färjestad, Lucas Forsell continued his strong form of late after being bumped up to the team’s top six. Coming off a goal in his last game, Forsell received a pass off the skate in the slot and ripped it home for his second goal of the season.
That's goals in back-to-back games for Lucas Forsell (three points).
I swear this kid delivers nearly every time he's elevated up the lineup. #Canucks pic.twitter.com/WcAYCIs9VZ
— Dave Hall (@davehall1289) October 31, 2024
Later in the match, he broke into the offensive zone down the wing and caught the goaltender off guard, beating him five-hole from a tough angle.
Lucas Forsell added a second goal today in SHL action. It's time to leave him in the top-six, me thinks. #Canucks pic.twitter.com/T5GdmzbGVh
— Dave Hall (@davehall1289) October 31, 2024
Forsell, now 21 years old, has three goals this season, all of which he scored in his last two games. And in just nine games, he’s one of his team’s top contributors in Corsi, operating at a 58% CF rate.
It’s been a challenging start for Forsell, who recently returned from a week-to-week absence after undergoing appendix surgery. Since returning, he’s been utilized in various roles, typically in the bottom six. However, when given the opportunity to move up the lineup, Forsell has found ways to contribute offensively.
While Fernström is just beginning his professional journey, Forsell is now in his fourth season of full-time pro hockey. The Canucks will need to decide whether to sign Forsell to an entry-level contract by this summer if they want to bring him to North America. Forsell recently signed a three-year extension with Färjestad last January, which could affect the team’s decision.