Fabian Zetterlund Bio
Fabian Zetterlund is a Swedish professional ice hockey forward for the Ottawa Senators of the National Hockey League. Born 25 August 1999 in Karlstad, Sweden, he progressed from the Färjestad BK youth program to the SHL and later to the NHL after being selected in the 2017 NHL Entry Draft.
Early Life and Background
Fabian Zetterlund was born and raised in Karlstad, Sweden, where he came through the youth ranks of Färjestad BK. He developed as a prospect within that program and made his Swedish Hockey League debut with Färjestad BK during the 2015–16 season.
At junior level Zetterlund scored 16 goals and 26 points in the 2016–17 J20 Superelit season, while seeing limited minutes in SHL appearances that same year. His early progression included loan time to Timrå IK in the Allsvenskan and a 2018–19 season shortened by an ACL injury that required season-ending surgery.
Path to Hockey
Zetterlund’s pathway followed the common Swedish development route: strong junior results, gradual integration into senior SHL competition, and international junior appearances. He represented Sweden at multiple junior levels and was part of the Swedish team that reached the gold medal game at the 2018 World Junior Championships, earning a silver medal.
His performances at junior and SHL levels drew NHL attention and led to his selection by the New Jersey Devils in the third round, 63rd overall, of the 2017 NHL Entry Draft. That selection established the framework for his move to North American professional hockey.
Fabian Zetterlund Career
Early Career (2015–2019)
Zetterlund made his professional debut in the SHL with Färjestad BK in 2015–16 after rising through the club’s youth system. He earned a more regular SHL role in 2017–18, recording three goals and seven points in 35 SHL games and also posted points during a loan to Timrå IK in Allsvenskan.
In the 2018–19 season Zetterlund suffered an ACL injury that curtailed his campaign; he finished that year with two goals and four points in 16 games. Despite the injury setback, the New Jersey Devils signed him to a three-year, entry-level contract on 13 May 2019, clearing the path to North American play.
New Jersey Devils Breakthrough (2019–2023)
After signing with New Jersey, Zetterlund spent his first North American season with the AHL’s Binghamton Devils during the COVID-shortened 2019–20 season, scoring eight goals and 19 points in 46 games while regaining form after injury. With North American play paused in 2020, the Devils loaned him to AIK of the Allsvenskan, where he recorded four goals and ten points in 21 games before returning to the AHL.
Zetterlund began to register in New Jersey’s organization over the next two seasons. He made his NHL debut on 18 November 2021 against the Florida Panthers after starting 2021–22 with the Utica Comets. Following a recall in April 2022 he scored his first NHL goal on 13 April in a 6–2 win over the Arizona Coyotes and delivered secondary scoring in his recall stint with the Devils, contributing to the club’s forward depth in 2021–22 and 2022–23.
San Jose Sharks Breakthrough (2023–2025)
On 26 February 2023 Zetterlund was part of a major nine-player trade that sent Timo Meier to the Devils and moved Zetterlund to the San Jose Sharks. He made his Sharks debut on 28 February 2023 and registered his first point with the team on 14 March 2023 in an assist against the Columbus Blue Jackets.
Signed to a two-year, $2.9 million contract on 1 July 2023, Zetterlund stepped into a larger role with San Jose. In the 2023–24 season he appeared in all 82 games and set new career highs with 24 goals and 44 points, leading the Sharks in goals. The following 2024–25 season he recorded 17 goals and 36 points in 64 games while playing in top-six and second-line roles as the Sharks integrated highly touted prospects into their lineup.
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. He made his Senators debut on 10 March and initially skated on the fourth line before moving into top-line minutes alongside Tim Stützle later in his stint.
In 20 games with Ottawa to complete the 2024–25 season, Zetterlund recorded two goals and five points. He registered his first point for the Senators on 27 March with an assist on Thomas Chabot’s opening goal and scored his first Ottawa goal on 8 April. Ottawa qualified for the 2025 playoffs and faced the Toronto Maple Leafs in the first round, where Zetterlund went scoreless in the six-game series. On 19 June 2025 he re-signed with the Senators on a three-year contract worth $12.825 million, extending his tenure with the club.
Driving Style and Strengths
Zetterlund is a right-shooting forward listed at 5 ft 11 in and 220 lb who has shown versatility across roles from fourth-line energy minutes to top-line offensive assignments. His 2023–24 campaign demonstrated finishing ability and durability, and he has combined skating and shooting to provide secondary scoring and depth for NHL teams.
Notable Events and Milestones
Key milestones in Zetterlund’s career include his SHL debut in 2015–16, selection by the New Jersey Devils in the 2017 NHL Entry Draft, his first NHL goal on 13 April 2022, the February 2023 nine-player trade to the San Jose Sharks, and career-high production in 2023–24 when he led the Sharks in goals. His move to the Ottawa Senators in March 2025 and his three-year extension in June 2025 represent recent turning points.
Fabian Zetterlund Career Wins
Across club play in Sweden, the AHL and the NHL, Zetterlund’s verified offensive contributions include junior scoring in Sweden, AHL production while developing in North America, and established NHL totals highlighted by his 2023–24 breakthrough season with the San Jose Sharks.
NHL Highlights
Zetterlund recorded his first NHL goal on 13 April 2022 and subsequently established career highs with the San Jose Sharks in 2023–24, appearing in all 82 games and scoring 24 goals for 44 points. In 2024–25 he added 17 goals and 36 points in 64 games with San Jose before his March 2025 trade to Ottawa, where he finished that season with two goals and five points in 20 games.
Other Wins & Perfromances
Earlier in his career Zetterlund scored eight goals and 19 points in 46 AHL games during the 2019–20 season and contributed at the junior level in Sweden, including 16 goals and 26 points at J20 Superelit in 2016–17. He has also represented Sweden at the World Junior Championships and at senior international tournaments, winning a bronze medal at the 2024 IIHF World Championship and a silver medal at the 2018 World Junior Championships.
Fabian Zetterlund Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Publicly available information notes a family connection in hockey: Zetterlund is a cousin of Andre Lee, a left wing who plays professional hockey. Beyond that athletic link, biographical details provided in public records center on his upbringing in Karlstad and development through the Färjestad BK system.
Personal Life
Personal details in the public record focus on Zetterlund’s on-ice career and international play. No further verified spouse or children information is included in the available sources.
2025 Season Performance
The 2024–25 season featured a midseason change of scenery for Zetterlund, who moved from San Jose to Ottawa in March 2025. He adjusted from a Sharks top-line and second-line role to beginning with fourth-line minutes in Ottawa before moving up the lineup; he finished the regular season with two goals and five points in 20 games with the Senators and participated in the playoff series against the Toronto Maple Leafs.
With a new three-year contract signed in June 2025, Zetterlund enters the 2025 season positioned as a versatile forward who can play multiple roles in Ottawa’s forward group. His 2023–24 durability and goal-scoring track record with San Jose are likely to inform expectations for his contributions in the coming seasons.