Detroit — The reaction is the same with many in the Red Wings organization when they see Elmer Soderblom.
When they watch the towering Soderblom — listed by the Wings at 6-foot-8, 249 pounds — now, compared to when he was drafted in the sixth round in 2019, there’s a staggering difference.
“The last time I saw him was a couple of years ago, and his skating has gotten so much better,” said Ben Simon, the Grand Rapids Griffins coach who coached the Wings’ team last weekend at the NHL Prospects Tournament. “He’s growing into his body and become a lot stronger.
“From when I last saw him to where he is now — great strides, great progression.”
Soderblom had two goals in the three-game tournament, set up Cross Hanas for a nice goal Saturday, and generally used his size to his advantage.
It was Soderblom’s first real taste of North American pro hockey, with the smaller rink (compared to Europe) and a more physical pace.
“Everything’s quicker,” Soderblom said. “You have to do everything a little quicker and it’s a little more physical. You’ve got to be able to take a hit and give a hit as well. Pretty much just do everything a little bit quicker.”
Soderblom, 21, admits in the three years since he was drafted by the Wings, he’s gotten comfortable with his size and it’s begun to show on the ice. Soderblom had a breakthrough in Sweden last season, scoring 21 goals (many highlight-reel) for Frolunda.
“My strength is an attack mindset and being around the net, being tough to play against, being able to protect the puck,” he said. “I have to keep playing my game, maybe add some more physicality.”
Simon, who has coached several of the Wings’ European prospects in recent years, believes there will be an adjustment for Soderblom in pro hockey — Soderblom is likely to begin the season in Grand Rapids — just as the others had.
“It’s going to be a different culture, a different rink size, a lot of first-time experiences for him,” Simon said. “He has to get some traction and play consistently well. We’ve seen that before with other players who’ve come over — there’s an acclimation period. The shorter that acclimation period to getting comfortable in North America, the quicker he’s going have success.”
“You don’t teach size. When you’re that big and you’ve got that strength on your skates and he protects the puck well, if he can play below the tops of the circles and take pucks to the net and make a living at the net front, he’s going to be exciting for Wings fans to watch.”
Adjustment time
Interestingly, there’s also defenseman Eemil Viro, who is listed at 6-feet, 176 pounds and could get lost standing behind Soderblom.
But Viro, who had a goal and was plus-3 in Monday’s 4-1 victory over Toronto in Traverse City, has caught Simon’s attention in several ways.
“You notice he’s a great skater and I like his competitive nature,” Simon said. “He has a good motor to him and a high battle level.”
Viro, a 2020 third-round pick, will also be making the transition to North American pro hockey for the first time. Viro has seen some subtle differences from the European game already.
“The game is faster,” Viro said. “Sometimes you have to chip it (the puck) out and if you don’t have a play, just respect the game. There’s a lot of battles, more battles, and you have to be awake all the time.”
Viro is another young player likely ticketed to Grand Rapids. Viro gained knowledge from the prospect tournament and feels better heading into the Wings’ training camp.
“I’m getting more confidence in the game and reading the game better,” Viro said. “It’s been a real important week for me.”
Ice chips
Hanas had two goals in the tournament, and made several nice plays, while showing the Wings he might be ready to turn pro and land a roster spot in Grand Rapids.
“Cross had a good tournament,” Simon said. “He’s another kid who has a solid skill set that we’re looking forward, if he ends up in GR, to work with. He had a good three days. He should be happy with his showing.”
…Simon feels the prospects tournament is a great tool for any player on a roster.
“It means different things to different people,” Simon said. “If you’re a draft pick, you’re being evaluated by Detroit. If you’re an invite (undrafted free agent), there’s tons of scouts here, not just Detroit, but it’s an opportunity for them to showcase who they are and get on the radar a little bit. It’s a great opportunity for all these kids to come in with Detroit and learn not only our stuff in Grand Rapids, because some of these kids will be in GR, and kind of learn what the pro daily routine is.
“The game day routine, how you do meetings and practice and in between periods and post-game, and just the last thing, getting ready for training camp.”
ted.kulfan@detroitnews.com
Twitter: @tkulfan