Yes, issues with the AHL, his time in Utica. Dahlen wasn't happy here... He was having issues in Utica. Nothing on his unwillingness to battle in corners or being an ultra-soft player coming out of the San Jose system. Anything before his time in Utica? I can't find anything... You'd think this commentary would continue from before he got here, to after he left, as they are major issues that fans and commentators would/should comment on. Major talking points here, that question the very validity as a prospect going forward. If he's a soft player who is scared of contact, he's not going to make it.
Is that an attempted bait? Are you looking for a snarky reply? That does this board no good.
I can't comment on his time before Utica.
I can tell you that it wasn't an icetime or confidence issue in Utica. He was given top-6 icetime from day 1 of the season and was a fixture on the top PP. He played 1 game all year on the 4th line which was his first game coming back from a concussion, and which was actually by far his best game of the season. And he had plenty of confidence on the PP.
The guy just couldn't skate and separate himself from AHL defenders, and was constantly on the perimeter. He scored 2 goals in 58 games in ES situations (stats will tell you he had 6 ES goals, but 1 was in 3-on-3 OT, 1 was an EN goal, 1 was in a PP situation in the last minute with the goalie pulled, and 1 was as the extra attacker in a delayed penalty situation). The coaches kept putting him out there, and he kept absolutely sucking ass. And apparently when they tried to tell him he needed to be more involved, he pouted and demanded a trade.
I am extremely hard on this organization. I hold them at zero fault for Dahlen's issues. His failure rests entirely on his shoulders.