Elmer Soderblom finished his first full season in the SHL and promptly led all U22 players in scoring. The Detroit Red Wings prospect will now attempt to lead his Frolunda HC team into the playoffs.
The Detroit Red Wings currently have seven prospects, three forwards and four defensemen, who played professionally in the SHL this year. Five of these players wound up in the top 10 in the U22 scoring race. Albert Johansson is the only player currently under contract with Detroit. Several of these other players are expected to sign entry-level contracts with the Red Wings this summer.
Here is a look at each of the players after the regular season ended last week.
Elmer Soderblom (LW/RW, Frolunda)
Elmer Soderblom was the top U21 and U22 scorer in the SHL this year. Drafted in the 6th round of the 2019 draft by Detroit, Soderblom completed the SHL regular season having played 52 games. Soderblom scored 21 goals, 12 assists, 33 points, and a -10 rating. In 90 career SHL regular season games, Soderblom has 24 goals, 14 assists, 38 points, and a -13 rating. Soderblom is expected to sign his entry-level contract and play in the Detroit organization next season.
Albert Johansson (LD, Farjestad)
Albert Johansson, who was on loan from Detroit, led all defenseman in U25 scoring. Drafted by the Red Wings in the 2nd round of the 2019 draft, Johansson recently finished his second full season in the SHL. In 52 games this year, Johansson scored five goals, 20 assists, 25 points, and a -6 rating. In 141 career regular season games, Johansson has scored 15 goals, 42 assists, 57 points, and a +10 rating. Johansson is expected to play professionally in the Detroit organization next season.
William Wallinder (LD, Rogle)
William Wallinder was 2nd in scoring for U21 defensemen. Drafted by Detroit in the 2nd round of the 2020 draft, Wallinder split the season between the J20 and the SHL. In 47 games, Wallinder scored four goals, 15 assists, 19 points, and a +5 rating. Wallinder is expected to sign his entry-level contract this year and likely make his professional debut in the Detroit organization in either 2022 or 2023.
Simon Edvinsson (LD, Frolunda)
Simon Edvinsson was 3rd in scoring for all U21 defensemen. Edvinsson recently turned 19 and is Detroit’s top prospect currently playing in Europe. Drafted 6th overall in the 2021 draft, Edvinsson recently completed his first full season in the SHL. In 44 regular season games, Edvinsson scored two goals, 17 assists, 19 points, and a +13 rating. In 54 career regular season games in the SHL, Edvinsson has scored two goals, 18 assists, 20 points, and a +10 rating. Edvinsson is expected to sign an entry-level contract and will likely play professionally in the Detroit organization next year.
Theodor Niederbach (C/RW, Frolunda)
Theodor Niederbach was 7th in U21 scoring. Niederbach recently turned 20 and just completed his first full season in the SHL. Niederbach was drafted by Detroit in the 2nd round of the 2020 draft. In 51 regular season games, Niederbach scored nine goals, seven assists, 16 points, and a -1 rating. In 71 career regular season SHL games, Niederbach has scored 12 goals, nine assists, 21 points, and a -6 rating. Niederbach is expected to sign an entry-level contract with Detroit, but will likely spend one more year playing in the SHL.
Liam Dower Nilsson (C, Frolunda)
Liam Dower Nilsson primarily played in the J20 this year. Dower Nilsson, who will turn 19 next month, was a 5th round pick of the Red Wings in 2021. Dower Nilsson was held pointless in 10 SHL games. In 34 J20 games, Dower Nilsson ended up 11th in scoring with 19 goals, 31 assists, 50 points, and a +19 rating. Dower Nilsson recently signed a two-year extension to play for Frolunda in the SHL.
Gustav Berglund (LD, Farjestad)
Gustav Berglund was a 6th round pick of the Detroit Red Wings in 2019. Berglund started the season playing for Mora (Hockey Allsvenskan) where he scored two goals and three points in 10 games. Berglund was then loaned to the Farjestad organization. Berglund played one game in the J20 for Farjestad and seven games in the SHL. Berglund was then relegated to play the remainder of the season for Karlskrona in HockeyEttan. In four games, Berglund chipped in with one assist during the regular season and has recently played three playoff games. Detroit own Berglund’s rights until the end of the 2022-2023 season.