Roughly translated: Zetterberg and Kronwall were in the stands at Frolunda-Malmo today. Raymond and Veleno were well aware of it.

Red Wings prospects Lucas Raymond and Joe Veleno faced off today as Raymond’s Frolunda Indians hosted Veleno’s Malmo Redhawks, and Frolunda won 6-2 despite a slick goal from Veleno.

While Raymond (as well as prospect teammates Elmer Soderblom and Theodor Niederbach) and Veleno got top billing on the ice, two members of the Red Wings’ organization made an appearance in the stands:

Finbesök på läktaren! Henrik Zetterberg och Niklas Kronwall ?#twittpuck pic.twitter.com/QPcm5XYPaq

— C More Sport (@cmoresport) October 20, 2020

Both Raymond, Veleno and the aforementioned understudies in Soderblom and Niederbach were well aware of their famous onlookers, as they told HockeyNews.se’s Mattias Persson. What follows is roughly translated from Swedish:

The talents impressed the eyes of the NHL team: ‘They’re two idols“

Frölunda rode over Malmo 6-2 on Tuesday. Former NHL stars Henrik Zetterberg and Niklas Kronwall were then on hand to witness four of Detroit’s draft picks.
And Malmo’s Detroit loan Joe Veleno impressed with a goal and an assist before the fine visitors.

“They’re two really good people who are very easy to talk to,” Veleno says after the game.

The game between Malmo and Frolunda were visited by esteemed visitors. Former Swedish NHL stars Henrik Zetterberg and Niklas Kronwall sat down in the restaurant, and they were on hand to follow four of Detroit’s talents.

In Frounda, there are the super-talent Lucas Raymond, and forwards Elmer Soderblom and Theodor Niederbach, who were all drafted by Detroit. And in Malmo, one of the NHL club’s biggest hopes for the future plays there, in the form of center Joe Veleno.

Before the eyes of the esteemed visitors, the Canadian forward took the opportunity to strike with his first two points for Malmö, though the team lost 6-2.

“It’s great that they are here. There are two historic players in the Detroit Red Wings organization, and also in the NHL in general. Henrik Zetterberg was one of the best players in the league, and Niklas Kronwall was a really good defenseman”

“They are two really good people who are very easy to talk to. They have helped me and inspired me a lot. It’s been a while since I saw them, so it was fun to see them again,” Veleno says afterward.

Detroit’s fourth overall choice in this year’s draft, Lucas Raymond, also saw the duo when they were zoomed in on the scoreboard during the match–and the 18-year-old also had a chat with them afterwards.

“It’s cool that they follow us. These are two idols who were extremely successful and talented hockey players. It’s really fun to meet and talk to them,” says Raymond.

Niklas Kronwall currently works as an advisor for Detroit, while Henrik Zetterberg has no official role within the NHL club. After Raymond was drafted by the team a few weeks ago, he has had close contact with the former big defenseman.

“I talk a lot with (Niklas) Kronwall. It was the first time I met (Henrik) Zetterberg today, but I have got an awesome perception of him as well.”

“When you talk to them, it’s like talking to two completely normal people who have good advice, then you think about it, and remember that you are standing and talking to two idols. It’s huge,” he says.

What did they say then?

“We just talked a bit in general about the game, and how it feels with everything. It’s nice to vent a bit and get good tips and advice.”