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Silfverberg has eight points in the 2017 playoffs, and has 31 in his last 30 playoff games in total, going back three springs.

Silfverberg was gob-smacked to hear the Alfredsson comparison, though. And not just because they’re both righthand-shooting Swedes who play right-wing.

Photo by Jeff McIntosh / THE CANADIAN PRESS

“Huge compliment. I got a chance to play one season with Alfie in Ottawa,” said Silfverberg, who was traded to Anaheim from Ottawa in the 2013 Bobby Ryan deal. “Obviously, I’m not there yet, but being drafted by the Senators, I looked up to him, super humble guy. I played with him in the Olympics (at Sochi in 2014), and at the World Cup last September, he was one of the mentors we had for Sweden.”

Ryan is good, but even if he has seven points this stirring playoff for Ottawa, he’s always left people wanting more with his skill-set and size.

Not so for Silfverberg, the 39th player taken in the 2009 draft who grew up in a hockey family. His father, Jan-Erik Silfverberg, was a decorated defenceman at night and a construction worker by day for Brynas, the Swedish League team in Gavle.

He’s been a defensive presence for years on right-wing but he’s gone from scoring 13 goals to 20 to 23 the last three seasons.

He’s flown under the radar and he’s got the type of shot that makes people pay. Andrew Cogliano

“He’s an unsung hockey player, and we’re very, very fortunate to have him. He can do a lot of things,” said Carlyle. Silfverberg can check, defend (plus 33 the past three years), and score; he’s on the first power play unit. He’s also a bargain at $3.75-million for three more years.