It’s a Mathias Brome kind of day. He’s spoken with the Swedish media several times over the past couple of days, Brome scored a couple of goals in yesterday’s scrimmage, and, today, the Free Press’s Helene St. James wonders aloud if the Wings have finally struck European gold after whiffing on a host of European overager free agents:
Brome may be able to break the recent trend of undrafted European players who have come over with promise but left faint impression. In 2019, Finnish defenseman Oliwer Kaski was signed to a one-year deal; he was traded to the Carolina Hurricanes for minor-league defenseman Kyle Wood after 19 games with the Grand Rapids Griffins (two goals, three assists) and never appeared in a Wings game.
In 2017, the Wings signed Czech defenseman Libor Sulak after scouting him at the World Championship; he played but six games for the Wings. The last European import to make a decent contribution was Swiss forward Damien Brunner, who was signed to a one-year deal in 2012 and joined the Wings after the lockout was resolved. Brunner had a solid rookie season with 12 goals and 14 assists in 44 games. But Brunner overestimated his value in turning down multiple-year contract offers from the Wings, opting instead to sign with the New Jersey Devils as a free agent.
Brome has told the Swedish media that he’s going to stick in Detroit until he makes the NHL:
General manager Steve Yzerman signed Brome to a one-year, $925,000 contract. Brome was also pursued by the Vancouver Canucks and Washington Capitals.
“I had a good talk with Steve,” Brome said. “That’s what I felt was the best chance for me to play in the NHL. That’s why I chose Detroit. I’m really hoping I have a good chance to make the team, but it’s up to me to do that. I’m going to take every day here and do my best and see how long it will take to make the team. … I feel like I am ready. I have developed a lot back home in Sweden. The point I am at now in my career, I really feel there is a good chance to fight for a spot on the team.”
I hope Brome makes the team. Seems like a good team mate and has a good head on his shoulders, some skills..All around good player, I hope
Now for Blashill, he will NEVER say much if anything positive about the players, likes the word “some Skills, some everything” . He is a lousy speaker so he uses the same phrases over and over.
Hope he is gone before the start of next year!!!