from Mike Heika of the Dallas Morning News,

The whirlwind start to the rookie season of Mattias Janmark is even more improbable than it looks on the surface.

Not only was the 22-year-old forward expected to return to Sweden to play this season, but he also was programmed to play on ice that's much bigger and didn't really consider the challenges of North American hockey until he arrived in September.

"It's a lot different, I didn't really think about how different it would be," Janmark said of playing on a sheet that's 85 feet wide, 15 feet narrower than European rinks. It's a bit more of a puck possession game back home, and you have more time. Here, it's a bit smaller and tighter. But I think it's fun, I think you get more opportunities here."

In fact, Janmark's ability to adapt quickly has created an opportunity to establish his NHL career right now. While he was a center in Sweden who liked to skate the puck up ice and hold onto it for long stretches, waiting for just the right moment to make a pass, he has had to become a reactor in the NHL. Janmark has moved to the wing and plays with puck possession centers like Jason Spezza. As such, he's playing a different game than he has ever played before, and he's doing a great job of it.

continued