Erik Påhlsson emerging as Gophers’ potential X factor: ‘There’s a good story in there’

Erik Påhlsson sped down the left-wing boards into the Wisconsin zone and examined his options as he closed in on the goal line. He could fire a pass over to linemate Tate Pritchard for a possible tap-in, or he could take a sharp-angle shot against Badgers goalie Daniel Hauser.

“I was first looking for the pass back door to Pritch, but I didn’t find a lane to pass to him,” Påhlsson said. “And I was like: ‘You know what? I’ll give it a try.’”

Påhlsson found a tight window over Hauser’s right shoulder for a power-play goal, scoring what proved to be the game-winner in the Gophers men’s hockey team’s 4-1 victory Friday night, Jan. 30, at 3M Arena at Mariucci.

The sophomore center, who also had an assist Friday, added two goals and an assist in the Gophers’ 8-4 win over the Badgers on Saturday night.

“It worked this time,” said Påhlsson, who broke a 19-game goalless drought and was named the Big Ten’s Second Star of the Week. “It was super fun. Great shot.”

If there is an X factor for the Gophers as they try to salvage a season marred by a seven-game losing streak that ended against Wisconsin, it’s Påhlsson. The native of Landskrona, Sweden, has five goals and six assists and has worked his way back from a midseason injury that cost him four games. In 2024-25, he missed 10 games because of injury.

“You take away his injuries, and he’d be much further along,” Gophers coach Bob Motzko said. “He’s got a chance to be a real high-end player for us, and he has shown it in spurts. He’s a great teammate. Guys love him.”

“It’s important that our line and other lines are helping [the first line] and taking a little bit of the pressure off their shoulders,” Påhlsson said. “That’s how you create a successful and hard team to play against.”

Hendrickson sees a teammate who’s just scratching the surface of his talent.

“We don’t know the ceiling for Erik,” Hendrickson said. “He’s such a good hockey player, and I’m lucky enough to play with him.”

Påhlsson’s route from Sweden to Minnesota wasn’t direct. He originally wanted to sign a pro contract in Sweden, but that opportunity didn’t arise. Kalle Larsson, then the general manager of the USHL’s Dubuque Fighting Saints, reached out to his fellow Swede. Påhlsson was hesitant to commit at first, but Larsson’s persistence won him over.

Påhlsson immediately impressed at Dubuque, amassing 28 goals and 44 assists in 57 games in 2023-24 as the Fighting Saints reached the Clark Cup final. He was selected in the seventh round of the 2024 NHL draft by the Nashville Predators.

“I visited a couple of other spots, but no other school was close to what Minnesota felt like. I love how this feels a little bit like a second home,” Påhlsson said.

For Motzko and the Gophers, that’s great news.