McKeen’s Hockey’s Chapin Landvogt penned a column listing the top three NHL-affiliated prospects right now, as published on Yahoo Sports, and you’ve heard of #3:
3) Elmer Soderblom – Left Wing (Detroit Red Wings)
2020-21 Frölunda, SHL 28GP-3G-2A-5PTS
2020-21 Sweden U20, WJC 5GP-2G-1A-3PTS
2021-22 Frölunda, SHL 14GP-6G-3A-9PTS
At a monstrous 6’8”, 238 lbs., Swedish left winger Elmer Soderblom has the potential of being a huge part of the Detroit Red Wings’ future – in more ways than one. A sixth rounder in the 2019 NHL Draft, he was selected straight out of Sweden’s junior leagues where he didn’t have particularly impressive stats, but the team obviously saw something in him (well, he’s hard to miss) and look to have gotten a great value pick. Noticeable at last winter’s WJC thanks not only to his immense frame, but also his two goals and three points, Soderblom is now playing in his second full season of SHL hockey and has taken things to a whole new level. Getting time on the power play and plenty of top line minutes over the course of 14 games for league powerhouse Frölunda, his six goals and nine points are good for third on the team in scoring.
Again, I don’t think that Soderblom is the next Johan Franzen, but if he can be the next Michael Rasmussen, plus a little more goal-scoring, that would be wonderful.
