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The post Ranking Red Wings Prospects: The Forwards (+) appeared first on Detroit Hockey Now.

Unless you’re a devoted reader of European hockey transactions, you probably didn’t even notice the former Detroit Red Wings prospect who was on the move in the Swedish lower divisions.

Defenseman Gustav Berglund is switching teams. He’s leaving Karlskrona HK and joining Brodernas/Vasby.

So what, you ask. Big deal, you say.

𝗡𝗬𝗛𝗘𝗧: Gustav Berglund ansluter till Brödernas/Väsby.
”Gustav är en stor, stark och spelskicklig rightback som gjort det bra i Karlskrona senaste två åren”, säger sportchefen, Tom Tärnström. Läs mer i länken nedan. https://t.co/Rl7af4RPcB
| Erik Mårtensson / BILDBYRÅN pic.twitter.com/7CX6xE8Egj

— Brödernas/Väsby Hockey (@vasbyhockey) June 3, 2024

Well, yes and no. Both of those teams perform in HockeyEttan, the Swedish third division. It’s not home to NHL prospects.

However, less than five years ago, the Red Wings were viewing Berglund as an NHL prospect. In 2019 – Steve Yzerman’s first draft as Detroit GM – the Red Wings would select Berglund 177th overall.

At the time, the team was excited by Berglund’s potential.

“He’s a talented guy with good size,” said Hakan Andersson, Detroit’s head European scout. “I’m hoping within a year or so he’s going to challenge for a spot on the Swedish World Junior team. That’s the first step.”

That he’s currently is a third-division player shows it was a step too far for Berglund. Over his pro career, he’s managed to play just 15 games in the SHL.

What Berglund has also served to emphasize is the inexact science that is the NHL entry draft. The reality is that once teams get beyound the first round, they are basically just throwing darts.

Red Wings Sign Pair Of Seventh Round Picks

From Yzerman’s five drafts, the club has let two second-rounders – Robert Mastrosimone (2019) and Theodor Niederbach (2020) – go without a contract offer. At the same time, the Red Wings inked a pair of seventh-round selections – Carter Gylander (2019) and Emmitt Finnie (2023) – to NHL entry-level contracts.

Research shows exactly how much of a crapshoot the NHL entry draft truly is for teams. A study conducted by Dobber Prospects found that 74% of first-round picks become NHLers. By the time the second round gets underway, the chance of becoming an NHLer slips to 34%. It’s 27% for a third-round pick and 22% for a fourth-rounder. Those chosen in the fifth round or later will make it to the show just 14.3% of the time.

Elmer Soderblom and Marco Kasper sandwich a guy then Elmer becomes a one man wrecking ball out there with two more massive hits!#GoGRG #LGRW #CalderCup pic.twitter.com/hBd0w9tKjH

— Hockeytown West Podcast (@HockeytownWpod) May 24, 2024

So far, the Red Wings have made 51 draft selections in the five years Yzerman has been the GM. To date, just five of them have played an NHL game. Four of that group of five – Moritz Seider (2019), Lucas Raymond (2020), Simon Edvinsson (2021) and Marco Kasper (2022) – were first-round selections.

The other player to make it the NHL is 2019 sixth-rounder Elmer Soderblom. He was tabbed 18 selections prior to Berglund.

So go ahead, stockpile those draft picks. All it does is give a team more darts to throw at the draft board.

The post Former Red Wings Prospect Symbol of Inexact Science of Drafting appeared first on Detroit Hockey Now.

Of late, future Detroit Red Wings are dominating the honors when it comes to selecting the European Hockey Clubs Alliance Young Player of the Year.

Red Wings draftees have won this award each of the past three years. It will be Axel Sandin Pellikka’s task to try and extend that streak to four consecutive seasons.

Nominated Young Player of the Year – presented by@Fjallraven_Swe

Axel Sandin-Pellikka @skelleftea_aik #EHCAwards pic.twitter.com/xcmG8YY20X

— EuropeanHockeyClubs (@EHCAlliance) May 15, 2024

The defenseman who was Detroit’s 17th overall selection is one of five finalists who are up for the award. Also among the nominees are Orebo’s Jonathan Lekkerimaki, Ville Koivinen of Karpat Oulu, Jani Nyman of Ilves Tampere and Jiri Tichacek of Kladno.

In helping Skelleftea win the SHL title this season, Sandin Pellikka, 19, was scoring 10 regular-season goals. He would add 2-5-7 totals during the club’s playoff run, netting a game winner in triple overtime in the quarterfinals against Linkopings. In the SHL, he won the Borje Salming Trophy as the top Swedish-born defenseman.

Sandin Pellikka was also earning recognition as top defenseman at the IIHF World Junior Championship, helping Sweden to a silver medal.

Red Wings Dominate Award

Beginning in 2021, this honor has proven to be exclusive property of the future of the Red Wings. Detroit defenseman Moritz Seider won EHC Young Player of the Year in 2021.

Grand Rapids Griffins forward Elmer Soderblom would follow up by winning in 2022. Last year, the recogntion went to another current Griffins player, defenseman William Wallinder.

It could prove challenging for Sandin Pellikka to keep the streak going. In the SHL, it was future Vancouver Canucks player Lekkerimaki who was given recognition as the rookie of the year.

Filppula Up For Honor

Anothe player familiar to Red Wings fans is also a finalist for an EHC award. Valtteri Filppula of Servette Geneva is up for the Career Excellence Award.

Nominated for the @Warrior Career Excellence Award:

Valtteri Filppula @officialGSHC #EHCAwards pic.twitter.com/zRa4I7kaj3

— EuropeanHockeyClubs (@EHCAlliance) May 15, 2024

The last active player to have won a Stanley Cup in Detroit, Filppula would join the exclusive Triple Gold club last year when Finland won the world title. He’d previously won an Olympic gold medal with the Finns.

The post Red Wings Pick Finalist for Top European Award appeared first on Detroit Hockey Now.

Okay, to celebrate the return of Elmer Soderblom to the lineup of the Grand Rapids Griffins, let’s get all of the big puns out of the way.

Yes, he was looming large. Certainly, he was an imposing presence. And of course, Soderblom came up big.

What else would you be expecting from the 6-foot-8, 255-pound Detroit Red Wings prospect?

Coming back into action following a battle with illness, Soderblom would net a goal as the Griffins were posting a 4-3 overtime victory over the Rockford IceHogs in Game 3 of their AHL Calder Cup playoff series. The Griffins are leading the best-of-five set 2-1.

He's so back. pic.twitter.com/dTD9rmidA8

— x – Grand Rapids Griffins (@griffinshockey) May 4, 2024

Hey, even Soderblom’s Griffins teammates were delighted get in on the puns.

“Yeah, obviously it’s huge,” forward Marco Kasper said. “He’s a huge presence. I mean, 6-8.

“But huge goal from him. Played a great game.”

Griffins Soderblom Deals With Ups And Downs

The illness that struck him down and out of the lineup was the latest twist and turn in the Soderblom saga since the player chosen 159th overall in the 2019 NHL entry draft was arriving in Detroit at the start of last season.

Soderblom won a spot with the Red Wings out of training camp. The 22-year-old Swede would be spending the first half of the season playing in the NHL Sent to Grand Rapids in midseason, that’s where he’s toiled ever since.

To say it’s gone swimmingly for him would be a tall tale. There’s been some big swings in momentum where Soderblom’s career path is concerned.

#IAvsGR | What a shift from Amadeus Lombardi. Some beautiful passing and Elmer Soderblom with the patience and finish. Just like that the Griffins take the lead! pic.twitter.com/5NsjB94Gui

— Andrew Rinaldi (@GR_Rinaldi_) March 2, 2024

“It’s been challenging,” Soderblom readily admits. “It’s a lot different game compared to overseas. So I’m learning every single day in every game, I think, and it’s a process, but I feel like I’m taking steps all the time.

“So, yeah, I’m just looking forward to getting even better and show my game and show what I can do.”

At times, the ebbs and flows in the process of his development as a player have gotten the better of Soderblom’s psyche.

“Of course, sometimes it’s frustrating,” Soderblom said. “You feel like you can do more and you feel like you can play better and stuff like that. But I think you just have to be patient and stick with your plan and your goals.

“Just keep changing your goals and just improving every day.”

Strong Second Half In Grand Rapids

Soderblom appeared to b truly be finding his game durng the second half of the current AHL campaign. Eight of his 13 goals came over his last 22 regular-season games. Including his goal Friday, he has a tally in six of the past 13 games.

“I feel like I’m kind of taking in different stuff all the time, learning,” Soderblom said. “Learn different things and just the overall game, you know, being in the right spot and use my game and my style to my advantage.

“I think I’m just kind of learning as the process goes on and just play with my style as much as I can.”

One of those items he’s checking off his agenda is discovering how to best use his massive frame to his advantage.

“Exactly,” Soderblom said. “I think a lot of it’s just learning find a game that fits for you and bringing something special and different to the team. So I feel like I’m getting better, better and closer to that.”

Healthy and back in action, the step in Soderblom’s evolution is to become a physcial presence for the Griffins during the AHL postseason.

“I tried to bring my game,” he said of his AHL postseason debut. “I try to play physical and just use my size as much as possible.

“With the games that come up, I think I’m going to grow into that game more and more here.”

The post Soderblom Comes up Big in Return to Griffins Lineup appeared first on Detroit Hockey Now.

A change is about to be made that could be looming large for the Grand Rapids Griffins in Game 3 of their Calder Cup series with the Rockford IceHogs.

Towering forward Elmer Soderblom will be back in action for the Griffins. He was missing during the first two games of the series due to a lingering illness.

“That’s the plan,” Griffins coach Dan Watson said. “He was unavailable (Wednesday) night . . . getting over the sickness that he’s had for a long time here.”

“It looks like he’s finally turned that corner. Now it’s just making sure he has the capacity to handle the amount we want to give him and the amount of minutes he needs to play and play at a high level.”

There haven't been many 6'8" players in the National Hockey League, as only nine players have ever hit the 80-inch mark.

After playing 21 games last season, Elmer Soderblom could be a big piece of the @DetroitRedWings' future.@TonyLuftman | @MikeKellyNHL | #LGRW | #NHLTonight pic.twitter.com/uKctFXEuY2

— NHL Network (@NHLNetwork) July 31, 2023

With the best-of-seven set deadlocked at 1-1, Watson wasn’t even attempting to hide his delight about the impending opportunity to unleash the 6-foot-8, 255-pound Soderblom to wreak havoc against the IceHogs.

His size obviously,” Watson listed as the big thing Soderblom brings to the ice. “The puck protection down low. Getting some traffic in front of the net.

“It’s something we lacked (Wednesday) night and even lacked a little in Game 1. When he’s moving, when he’s using his body, he’s physical, he’s a presence out there.”

Griffins Soderblom Second Half Sensation

Last season, the player Detroit chose 159th overall in the 2019 NHL entry draft began the campaign with the Red Wings. At midseason following an injury, Soderblom was given assignment to the AHL Griffins, where he’s been playing ever since.

After a slow start to the 2023-24 AHL season, Soderblom was ramping up his performance. Over his past 12 games, Soderblom netted five goals. He scored eight of his 13 goals on the season for the Griffins in his past 22 games.

“He started imposing his will a little bit on the opposition,” Watson said. “By that I mean he was getting in the corners, using his size the right way. He wasn’t really on the outside, he was playing more inside, getting inside the dots, getting around the net, which he wasn’t doing at the start of the year.

POV: Elmer Soderblom is tipping shots in front of you… pic.twitter.com/hqqaxRyopK

— Detroit Red Wings (@DetroitRedWings) September 23, 2023

“He was trying to be a little too creative, a little too fancy. Too much stickwork and stickhandling.”

Since simplifying his approach, Soderblom has been simply sensational.

“He made it simple,” Watson said. “He played the game north and south, he got in on the forecheck, again using his length and reach to the most of his ability.

“That kind of helped propel him into a more offensive role, more so than he got in the first half.”

The post Big Change Coming For Griffins Entering Game 3 appeared first on Detroit Hockey Now.

The Detroit Red Wings are seeing the results they hoped they would see out of new Grand Rapids Griffins coach Dan Watson.

The Griffins (21-15-5-3) lost a 4-3 overtime decision to the Cleveland Monsters Friday, but the Griffins extended their points streak to 11 consecutive games. They haven’t lost in regulation in more than a month. This is the second-longest points streak in the AHL this season.

The Red Wings hired Watson as part of their offseason effort to restore the Griffins’ competitiveness. The best development environment for a prospect is to play for a playoff qualifier in the American Hockey League. Their gauntlet-like postseason scenario is similar to the NHL’s. The Griffins had missed the playoffs for two consecutive seasons. This season, they are battling the Texas Stars for second place in the Central Division.

The Griffins trailed Cleveland 3-1 Friday, but forced overtime with goals by Jonatan Berggren and Joel L’Esperance. Berggren’s goal was his 16th, 18th if you count the two goals he has scored for Detroit this season. Berggren has 20 points — including nine goals — in his past 16 games. Elmer Soderblom also scored his sixth goal for the Griffins.

Goalie prospect Sebastian Cossa is 4-0-2 during this streak.

“What’s not to like? Custard: good. Jam: good. Meat: good!” Elmer’s goal: GREAT! pic.twitter.com/COMnySYXXr

— Grand Rapids Griffins (@griffinshockey) February 17, 2024

Red Wings In Case You Missed It

• Vancouver defenseman Nikita Zadorov mocked Jake Walman’s Griddy celebration in the Canucks’ 4-1 win against Detroit.
•  Detroit’s squad is now in a salvage operation to pick up the last four points available on this road trip to stay in a playoff spot. They have games remaining with the Calgary Flames and Seattle Kraken.
• Paywall story: Tim Robinson writes that Wisconsin-bound Jack Phelan was making progress as a Detroit prospect until an injury removed him the lineup.

Red Wings Next Game

James Reimer will start in goal for Detroit today when it faces the Calgary Flames today (4 p.m.) Robby Fabbri will return to the Detroit lineup after missing two games to be with his wife for the birth of a daughter.

"Road trips got a little harder now."

Fabbri, Reimer & Newsy following today's practice » https://t.co/LfdFjAliPP pic.twitter.com/57zzUxUBsM

— Detroit Red Wings (@DetroitRedWings) February 16, 2024

Hockey Now Network

Boston: Prosecutors have decided not to move forward with domestic violence charges against Boston Bruins forward Milan Lucic. That came after Lucic’s wife, Brittany, invoked marital privilege and declined to testify.

Chicago: Blackhawks minor-league goalie Jaxson Stauber scored a goal in an AHL game. Chicago Blackhawks. 

Colorado: Are the Columbus Blue Jackets interested in luring back Chris MacFarland from the Colorado Avalanche? He served as Joe Sakic’s right-hand man. Evan Rawal has the story.

Montreal: Did a former Montreal Canadiens GM disrespect some Montreal legends? MHN’s Marc Dumont addresses the story. Montreal Canadiens

Nashville: NHN’s Michael Gallagher had some fun grading trade proposals submitted by readers. Nashville Predators. 

Pittsburgh: Jaromir Jagr is in town for the retirement of his number. Time hasn’t changed his sense of humor or his self-awareness. This is an entertaining fellow. Pittsburgh Penguins. 

The post The Daily: Griffins Point Streak at 11 Games; Lucic Update appeared first on Detroit Hockey Now.

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The post Soderblom In Search of Consistency in Grand Rapids (+) appeared first on Detroit Hockey Now.

Detroit Red Wings prospects were leading the charge in the Grand Rapids Griffins‘  come-from-behind 5-4 overtime win against the Manitoba Moose Friday night.

Marco Kasper (drafted eighth overall in 2022) scored the game-winner 48 seconds into OT.  He also had an assist, giving him his fourth multi-point game of the season.  Jonatan Berggren (drafted 33rd overall in 2018) scored with 1:41 remaining in regulation to force overtime. He has eight points in seven games since the Red Wings returned him to the Griffins. He has 26 points in 26 games for the Griffins this season.

Elmer Soderblom (drafted 159th overall in 2019)  also netted his fourth goal of the season for Grand Rapids, and finished with two points. Carter Mazur (drafted 7oth overall in 2021) posted two assists to give him 10 points in his past 12 games. Defenseman Antti Tuomisto (drafted 35th overall in 2019) also had an assist.

KASPER

GR – 5, MB – 4 #GoGRG pic.twitter.com/jxJvTzbrP5

— Grand Rapids Griffins (@griffinshockey) January 20, 2024

Red Wings In Case You Missed It

• Alex Lyon was steady again, but the Red Wings couldn’t score any goals against the Carolina Hurricanes.
• Detroit prospect Noah Dower Nilsson suffers an injury on the other shoulder.
• With Moritz Seider, Ben Chiarot, Jake Walman and Jeff Petry playing well defensively, the Red Wings are harder to beat on the road.
• Detroit assistant general manager Kris Draper is finding success in a different arena.

Red Wings Next Game

The Red Wings will be the other Detroit team playing Sunday. They will entertain the Tampa Bay Lightning, a team that is tied with them for the first wild card spot in the Eastern Conference. Originally, the game was scheduled for 5 p.m., but it has been moved to  7 p.m. because the Detroit Lions NFL playoff game (against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers) starts at 3 p.m.

Hockey Now Network

Boston: Boston Bruins forward Milan Lucic’s domestic abuse trial scheduled for Feb. 16.

Buffalo: ESPN Insider Kevin Weekes says the Buffalo Sabres may consider moving Casey Mittelstadt. He’s the young player they haven’t yet re-signed.

Florida: The Florida Panthers had an epic penalty kill meltdown in a 6-4 loss to Minnesota.

Philadelphia: Coach John Tortorella warns that more trades are coming. Don’t fall in love with Philadelphia Flyers.

Pittsburgh: Odds makers have changed their mind about coach Mike Sullivan. He has gone from short odds to 33-1 to be the next NHL coach fired. Pittsburgh Penguins.

The post The Daily: Marco Kasper OT Goal Lifts Griffins; Red Wings Short on Shots appeared first on Detroit Hockey Now.

Both the rejuvenated Grand Rapids Griffins and top Detroit Red Wings defense prospect Simon Edvinsson were continuing to roll on Friday at Van Andel Arena.

Getting a pair of goals from Edvinsson, Grands Rapids were 4-1 winners over the Milwaukee Admirals. Forward Jonatan Berggren, just returning to the Griffins earlier Friday from a stint with the Red Wings, was doling out an assist on Edvinsson’s second goal. Detroit draftees Albert Johansson and Elmer Soderblom each were contributing a pair of assists to the Griffins cause.

Edvinsson's second of the game! pic.twitter.com/EunCC0l7XA

— Grand Rapids Griffins (@griffinshockey) December 2, 2023

Edvinsson now has points in five successive games for Grand Rapids, showing 2-6-8 numbers over that span. In three of those five games, the Swedish defenseman has been counting multi-point performances.

Berggren, meanwhile, was extending his AHL points-scoring streak to four games (3-3-6). He’s accumulated 12 points (4-8-12) over 12 games with Grand Rapids.

Forward Taro Hirose drew an assist to extend his point-scoring streak to a season-high six games (3-6-9). However, the five-game streak of forward Austin Czarnik (3-3-6) came to a halt.

In goal, Sebastian Cossa, like Edvinsson a 2021 Detroit first-round draft pick, was parrying 35 of 36 shots to improve to 3-3-2 on the season.

Grand Rapids was posting its third win in the past four games. The Griffins were 4-7-2 on the season prior to this recent turnaround.

Griffins Send Tuomisto To Toledo

Just back from injury, the Griffins were assigning defenseman Antti Tuomisto to the ECHL Toledo Walleye.

Okay Simon pic.twitter.com/j7fdYWVCKy

— Grand Rapids Griffins (@griffinshockey) December 2, 2023

Tuomisto has suited up for two games with the Griffins, making his North America pro debut on Oct. 13 against the Colorado Eagles. The Pori, Finland, native has not seen game action since Oct. 21, as he has been recovering from an upper-body injury.

The post Edvinsson Scores Twice For Griffins appeared first on Detroit Hockey Now.

While the Detroit Red Wings were playing in Sweden last week as part of the NHL Global Series, they were arriving to Stockholm with more Swedes in the front office than on the ice.

Forward Lucas Raymond was the only Swedish player in the Detroit lineup.

However, to quote Reg Dunlop, erstwhile player/coach of the Charlestown Chiefs, that situation is about to change.

While in Sweden, Red Wings GM Steve Yzerman was talking excitedly about the number of top Swedish prospects currently in the club’s development pipeline.

“We have some young guys who are close to playing in the NHL,” Yzerman told Swedish website Aftonbladet.se. “This year they get a bigger role in Grand Rapids (AHL) to develop a little and play more special teams and have a bigger role.

“They are very young and we expect them to be able to force their way into the team within a year or two.”

At the top of that list certainly is defenseman Simon Edvinsson. The sixth player chosen in the 2021 NHL entry draft is in his second AHL season with the Griffins. He’s fourth on the team in scoring with 3-4-7 totals through 13 games.

“Positive reports from him down there, where he’s starting to get a more complete game,” Detroit coach Derek Lalonde said. “There’s less of those egregious mistakes. He’s finding his game, he’s growing the correct way.”

Red Wings Pick Sandin Pellikka Lighting Up SHL

Still in Sweden playing for Skelleftea of the SHL, defenseman Axel Sandin Pellikka, the 17th overall pick of the 2023 draft, already shows seven goals as his tally this season.

Pellikka moves from yesterday's game #LGRW pic.twitter.com/Asm5rN6mE7

— IcehockeyGifs (@IcehockeyG) November 19, 2023

“He’s a slightly different player than what we have in our organization,” Yzerman said. “He’s an offensive defenseman who’s good at moving the puck and we don’t really have that type of defenseman.

“It’s only a matter of time before he has a positive impact on the team”

Forwards Jonatan Berggren and Elmer Soderblom and defensemen Albert Johansson and William Wallinder are other Swedish prospects in Grand Rapids.

BERGY BERGY BERGY!

Jonatan Berggren has been named the 2022-23 Red Wings Rookie of the Year by @TheDSportsMedia!

» https://t.co/aM6oBWiYH1 pic.twitter.com/YUcLjaxLyG

— Detroit Red Wings (@DetroitRedWings) May 23, 2023

“Overall, they are good young men who all have a chance to become NHL players,” the Detroit GM said.

Yzerman finds the potential of Johansson to be curiously intriguing. The steady defender is a team-leading plus-four.

“He has started very well this year,” Yzerman said of Johansson. “Now he is injured but he is close to coming back. Based on his play, we want him to play in the NHL at some point to see where he fits in next year.

“He can be a good NHL player, he just has to be healthy and play.”

The post Potential of Young Swedes Exciting to Red Wings Yzerman appeared first on Detroit Hockey Now.