I’m incredibly cautious regarding writing about Red Wings prospects’ preseason performances in European leagues, in no small part because the levels of competition that they’re facing vary wildly from game to game…
So we’ll allow Detroit Hockey Now’s Kevin Allen to note 1) that Liam Dower Nilsson is doing very well for the Frolunda Indians during the month-long SHL preseason, and 2) Perhaps more importantly, Dower Nilsson is skating alongside his presumptive linemates for the upcoming season in Joel Lundqvist and Max Friberg:
Liam Dower Nilsson (134th overall in 2021) is showing flash in his play for Frolunda in the Swedish Hockey League’s preseason. He has five goals in three games. Dower Nilsson, according to Swedish media reports, has been playing on a line with Henrik Lundqvist’s brother, Joel and Max Friberg.
Joel Lundqvist is 40, Friberg is 29 and Dower-Nilsson is 19.
“All praise to them,” Dower Nilsson told rakapuckar.com. “They mean a lot, both on and off the ice. When they come and say things, about the structure and other things, you really think about it.”
Dower-Nilsson is a Hakan Andersson special project. Kris Draper said Detroit’s European Scouting Director pounded the table when he insisted the Red Wings draft Dower Nilsson. Dower Nilsson is a smart, enterprising, responsible center with a scoring touch. He didn’t score in 10 SHL games last season, but registered 50 points in 34 games in the junior league.
This will be an important development season for Dower Nilsson. He believes he has much more to give.
Allen continued; LDN isn’t particularly big at 6′ and 172 pounds, but he’s a pesky little bugger. We’ll see whether he continues to produce solid numbers alongside what will probably constitute Frolunda HC’s 3rd line.
