There are two Red Wings-related Swedish-language stories of note this morning. The first, a Simon Edvinsson interview with GT.se, is stuck behind a paywall, but the second story, Henrik Lehman’s interview with Liam Dower Nilsson on Rakapuckar.com is available to roughly translate. Here it is:
Dower Nilsson tells Lehman that he’s comfortable with his limited play thus far with Frolunda HC as an 18-year-old, mostly playing as the 13th forward:
“It feels good, I have got my feet moving and move the puck, which is the most important thing to cope with the speed and pace of this level of hockey.”
And to fix his penalties: “It’s thanks to me keeping my feet moving, constantly being intense in my game. I will continue doing that.”
Is intensity the big difference between the SHL and J20 leagues? “Yes, exactly. You constantly focus on the task [at hand].”
Liam Dower Nilsson is a center, was a team captain with the Under-18 National Team, and most recently played in the U18 World Championship this past spring, so this is a smart player. It’s interesting when he discussed whether he’s gotten his full game together yet:
“Not really, the game with the puck, it takes some time to get into. But something I could do better at the J20 and national team level is just my intensity and moving my feet, that they ‘walk’ all the time. I think I’ve gotten off to a really good start right now.”
Do you want to do that even better at the J20 level? “Yes, it’s important to bring that to the J20 level when (Karl) Henriksson and (Linus) Nassen return [to Frolunda’s men’s team].”
The injuries to Henriksson and Nassen will give Dower Nilsson more chances to play against Timra on Tuesday, Malmo on Thursday and Skelleftea on Saturday.
Maybe we will see the 18-year-old playing more minutes? He wants to be more involved, do more and more good things with the puck, as at the J20 level.
“The tempo is new to me. But it’s my goal to be able to do that as well. I want to be a center at the SHL level one day as well. Right now, it’s about hitting that edge.”
Will he play in the World Junior Championship as a minor? Probably not, but the chance exists, Dower Nilsson is a reserve for the team that’s going to be training for the team in Angelholm, but there’s much to suggest that he’ll have to wait until next season.
“When I’m at my best, when I raise my minimum level of play, then I can play at that level. I need to show myself and (Tomas) Monten [the National Team coach] and the guys that I can do it game after game. It’s starting to come now,” said Dower Nilsson, and he continued:
“It’s important to take every chance I get. I’m going to fight every day to earn a spot. But we’ll see. Now I focus on the game tomorrow vs. Timra, on getting my feet moving well like before.”
Maybe a little more ice time? He played 4:07 against Farjestad, 6:52 against Djurgarden.
“I always hope so. It’s up to the coaches. Of course you want to play more, but…Somewhere you have to realize, that I don’t play on the power play, not in penalty-killing, so it’s important to take advantages of the chances that I get, then there will probably be more. I think that I’ve made a good impression in the last two games, it will probably show up.”
Do you remember how Liam Dower Nilsson made headlines with a cheeky goal pass in Division I with Hanhals? Smart drop play behind his back. You can see it if you click here.
The 18-year-old is not really there where he plays in such situations in the SHL, where he would be on the power play, but he said with a smile about that play: “If the chance comes, I’ll test it out.”
