Fabian Zetterlund Bio
Fabian Zetterlund is a Swedish professional ice hockey forward for the Ottawa Senators of the National Hockey League (NHL). Born on 25 August 1999 in Karlstad, Sweden, he has built his career across Sweden and North America since making his Swedish Hockey League debut as a teenager. Zetterlund was selected 63rd overall by the New Jersey Devils in the 2017 NHL Entry Draft and has since suited up for the San Jose Sharks before landing in Ottawa. He is recognized for his steady offensive output and his international experience representing Sweden at multiple age levels.
Listed at 5 ft 11 in (180 cm) and 220 lb (100 kg), Zetterlund shoots right and plays a versatile forward role. He has appeared in more than 150 NHL regular-season games and has represented Sweden at the Under-17, Under-18, Under-20, and senior World Championship levels, including a bronze medal at the 2024 IIHF World Championship.
Early Life and Background
Fabian Zetterlund was born and raised in Karlstad, a city in central Sweden long associated with the Färjestad BK hockey program. He came up through the youth ranks of Färjestad BK, one of the country’s most established clubs, where he developed the foundation that would carry him into professional hockey. The club’s development system has produced many Swedish NHL players, and Zetterlund was viewed as one of its promising forward prospects from an early age.
His formative years were spent balancing school with the demands of elite youth hockey in Sweden. As a teenager, Zetterlund impressed at the J20 Superelit level, the top under-20 league in Sweden, which prepared him for senior competition. His progression through Färjestad’s system set the stage for his professional debut and later attracted the attention of NHL scouts.
Path to Hockey
Zetterlund made his Swedish Hockey League (SHL) debut with Färjestad BK during the 2015–16 season, appearing as a young forward in one of Europe’s top leagues. In 2016–17, he scored 16 goals and 26 points at the J20 Superelit level, while also skating in 14 SHL games where he averaged less than four minutes of ice time per contest. The production at the junior level signaled that a larger SHL role was within reach.
He earned a more permanent spot in Färjestad’s lineup during the 2017–18 season, recording three goals and seven points in 35 SHL games. He was also loaned to Timrå IK of the Allsvenskan, where he added five points in eight games. During the 2018–19 campaign, however, an ACL injury cut his season short after 16 games, in which he posted two goals and four points. The setback, while difficult, did not diminish his draft stock, as the New Jersey Devils selected him 63rd overall in the 2017 NHL Entry Draft.
Fabian Zetterlund Career
Early Career (2015–2019)
Zetterlund’s early professional years were spent establishing himself at Färjestad BK. After working his way into a regular SHL rotation, his development was interrupted by an ACL injury in 2018–19 that required season-ending surgery. Despite the limited 16-game appearance, he had already shown enough offensive touch and skating ability to convince NHL scouts of his long-term potential.
On 13 May 2019, the New Jersey Devils signed Zetterlund to a three-year entry-level contract, formally beginning his North American career. The timing allowed him to focus on recovery and conditioning before reporting to the organization’s development pipeline.
New Jersey Devils Era (2020–2023)
Zetterlund began his North American career with the Binghamton Devils, New Jersey’s American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, during the COVID-shortened 2019–20 season. He scored eight goals and 19 points in 46 games while gradually working back from his previous knee injury. When North American hockey paused, he was loaned to AIK of the Allsvenskan, where he posted four goals and ten points in 21 games.
In 2021–22, Zetterlund opened with the Utica Comets, New Jersey’s new AHL affiliate, and recorded 24 goals and 52 points in 58 regular-season games. He was recalled by the Devils on 17 November 2021 and made his NHL debut the next day against the Florida Panthers. After a brief stint back in the AHL, he returned in April 2022 and scored his first NHL goal on 13 April in a 6–2 victory over the Arizona Coyotes. The 2022–23 season saw him establish new offensive highs with New Jersey, collecting six goals and 20 points through 45 games while providing secondary scoring on a Devils team that led the league early in the year.
San Jose Sharks Era (2023–2025)
On 26 February 2023, Zetterlund was traded to the San Jose Sharks in a nine-player deal that sent Timo Meier to New Jersey. He made his Sharks debut two days later against the Montreal Canadiens and finished the season with three assists in 22 games. On 1 July 2023, he signed a two-year, $2.9 million contract to remain in San Jose.
During 2023–24, Zetterlund was placed on the Sharks’ top line alongside William Eklund and Mikael Granlund and responded with career highs of 24 goals and 44 points in 82 games, leading the team in goalscoring. In 2024–25, skating on the second line with Alexander Wennberg, he registered 17 goals and 36 points in 64 games before being moved again at the deadline.
Ottawa Senators Era (2025–Present)
On 7 March 2025, Zetterlund was traded to the Ottawa Senators alongside Tristen Robins and a 2025 fourth-round pick in exchange for Zack Ostapchuk, Noah Gregor, and a second-round pick. He debuted for Ottawa on 10 March against the Detroit Red Wings and eventually moved up to the top line alongside Tim Stützle. He recorded his first Senators goal on 8 April in a 5–2 loss to the Columbus Blue Jackets, finishing with two goals and five points in 20 regular-season games.
Ottawa qualified for the 2025 playoffs and faced the Toronto Maple Leafs in the first round, ultimately falling in six games. On 19 June 2025, Zetterlund re-signed with the Senators on a three-year contract worth $12.825 million. In 82 games he scored 17 goals and 33 points. The Senators returned to the postseason the following year but were swept in the first round by the Carolina Hurricanes, with Zetterlund going scoreless in the four-game series.
Driving Style and Strengths
Zetterlund is best described as a hardworking two-way forward with a reliable shot and a willingness to play along the boards. He is comfortable on both wings, reads the play well off the rush, and has produced career-best scoring when given top-six minutes alongside skilled linemates such as William Eklund, Mikael Granlund, and Tim Stützle. Coaches have valued his responsible defensive play and his ability to contribute on the power play and penalty kill.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among his signature moments, Zetterlund scored his first NHL goal on 13 April 2022 against the Arizona Coyotes and later posted two career-first three-point games with the Sharks in March 2024. His 24-goal, 44-point campaign in 2023–24 set personal NHL bests, and his bronze medal with Sweden at the 2024 IIHF World Championship highlighted his international pedigree.
Fabian Zetterlund Career Wins
Zetterlund’s career victories span junior, European, AHL, NHL, and international competition, with milestones in both regular-season play and tournaments.
NHL Highlights
Zetterlund has played in more than 150 NHL regular-season games across the New Jersey Devils, San Jose Sharks, and Ottawa Senators, recording regular-season totals that include 24 goals during his 2023–24 breakout with San Jose and 17 goals the following split campaign. His first NHL goal came on 13 April 2022 against the Arizona Coyotes, and he later posted two three-point games during March 2024 with the Sharks.
International Highlights
On the international stage, Zetterlund represented Sweden at the 2018 and 2019 World Junior Championships, capturing a silver medal in 2018 after a gold-medal-game loss to Canada. He added a bronze medal at the 2024 IIHF World Championship, reinforcing his standing within the Swedish national team program.
Fabian Zetterlund Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Zetterlund is a cousin of Andre Lee, a left wing who plays for the Ontario Reign of the AHL. The family connection reflects a broader hockey tradition within the Zetterlund lineage, though additional details about his parents and siblings are not publicly documented.
Personal Life
Zetterlund keeps much of his personal life private. He splits time between Sweden and North America during the NHL season and is active on social media, where fans can follow his updates on Instagram.
2025 Season Performance
Zetterlund’s 2025 season was defined by a mid-season move and a new long-term commitment. After being traded from San Jose to Ottawa on 7 March 2025, he finished with the Senators with two goals and five points in 20 regular-season games. He went scoreless in Ottawa’s first-round playoff loss to the Toronto Maple Leafs, a six-game defeat that ended the team’s postseason run.
On 19 June 2025, Ottawa locked Zetterlund into its long-term plans with a three-year, $12.825 million contract, signaling the organization’s belief in his offensive upside and two-way reliability. In 82 games overall he scored 17 goals and 33 points, demonstrating consistency despite the in-season change of scenery.
Heading into the following campaign, Zetterlund projects as a top-six winger for the Senators, with the opportunity to build chemistry alongside Tim Stützle and contribute to a young core aiming to take the next step in the Eastern Conference.
