Oskar Steen, 21, itching to make move to NHL - The Boston Globe
NEWARK — It was about time for Oskar Steen to get out of Karlstad.
Not that it’s a bad place to be. The picturesque city of about 60,000, located in the central Swedish lowland on the north shore of Europe’s largest freshwater lake (Vänern), was where Steen was raised. It was also where he developed as a junior hockey player, and, despite being the youngest regular on the team last year (20), became the top-scoring forward for Färjestad, the pro club based there.
“I felt like I had a good season and it was time to move on and do something new,” Steen said. “It was a good challenge for me as a player and a person to move away from my hometown, the comfy spot at home.”
“His shot I’ve noticed,” Bruins coach Bruce Cassidy said. “Smart player. He’s quick. I don’t know [about] fast, but he’s certainly quick enough to get around. He’s played at a high level. He’s played in the World Junior, he’s played in the top level in Sweden, he’s played against good players. Hopefully he’s not — I don’t want to use the word ‘rattled’ — but not intimidated by NHL competition.”
He was not Monday. To score his goal in Boston’s 4-3 overtime loss, Steen rushed through the neutral zone, eluded the stickwork of a backchecking Jack Hughes, and before Andy Greene could close on him, snapped it far side from the top of the right circle.
“That’s very big for my confidence,” he said. “It’s hard to play on the small rinks for the first time. I think it went better as the game went on. I think I’ll maybe do a better game next time.”
