For the second time this week, a Pittsburgh Penguins' prospect has earned top Swedish Hockey League (SHL) honors.
Forward Melvin Fernstrom - acquired from the Vancouver Canucks in the Marcus Pettersson trade - was named SHL Rookie of the Year on Sunday.
The 18-year-old right winger registered eight goals and 17 points in 48 games for Orebro HK.
⭐️ Melvin Fernström (@orebrohockey) är vinnare av Årets Rookie i SHL 2024/25 – ett pris som delas ut i samarbete med huvudsponsorn Svenska Spel!
— SHL.se (@SHLse) May 18, 2025
📲 På SHL:s hemsida kan du läsa motiveringen och mer om priset som Årets Rookie. pic.twitter.com/w9bmSe2VZt
Fernstrom was selected in the third round (93rd overall) of the 2024 NHL Draft. This was his first season playing in Sweden's highest professional hockey league, and he also played in 12 games for Orebro HK's J20 team, putting up 11 goals and 18 points in that time. During the 2023-24 season for Orebro HK J20, Fernstrom recorded 31 goals and 63 points in 45 games to go along with a plus-25.
The young Swede has a lot of raw talent, even if his skating and some of his details away from the puck are things he'll have to work on in order to stick at the NHL level. Penguins' POHO and GM Kyle Dubas said at the time of Fernstrom's acquisition on Jan. 31 that the Penguins were intrigued by him prior to the 2024 Draft.
"I think the thing that stood out in the draft is that, when we interviewed him, he was known as an offensive, scoring winger," Dubas said. "And we interviewed him, and it was very clear to us that his mindset was in the right spot. His goal for this year was to earn a spot in the SHL and knowing that role was not going to be as a top-two-line goal-scorer.
"And when we watched him this year for Orebro, he was highly competitive."
Fernstome is signed to Orebro HK through the end of the 2025-26 season.
Penguins Prospect Recognized As SHL Forward Of The YearA recently-signed Pittsburgh Penguins forward - and former top prospect - has been recognized after a stellar 2024-25 campaign.
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