Hakan Andersson on Edvinsson and Wallinder: “Phenomenal”
For over 30 years, Hakan Andersson has worked to recruit European talent for the Detroit Red Wings . From his couch at home in Sweden, he now follows the Detroit-drafted Swedes closely.
“I can’t imagine that there are so many better defensive prospects anywhere,” says Andersson.
For 30 years, Hakan Andersson has been the director of European scouting for the Detroit Red Wings. During his years with the team, he’s been a key when the team signed players such as Henrik Zetterberg, Pavel Datsyuk, Niklas Kronwall, Johan Franzen, Tomas Holmstrom, Valtteri Filppula and Gustav Nyquist.
Now, the next batch of Swedes are on their way over to the Michigan-based team. For HockeySverige.se, he gives his thoughts on the WJC tournament, and tells how he sees the Swedish defensive duo’s rocket-like development.
“Their efforts in the WJC have been okay. Simon Edvinsson is 3rd, William Wallinder is 2nd. Both had phenomenal seasons last year. I haven’t gone through in detail, but I can’t imagine that there are better defensive prospects anywhere. So, based udpon that, one might have thought they would have been even more prominent now. But it’s tough as hell in August, few guys play their best hockey then. Then you can turn it around, it’s the same for everyone. I think they’ve been perfectly fine, but I know they can do better,” Andersson says.
Wallinder was drafted 32nd overall in the second round of the 2020 draft. Edvinsson as 6th overall in the first round, the following year. Both by Detroit. The talents now hope to lead Sweden to success at the WJC from the blueline, and have made a real impact already during last season in the SHL. Now awaits a season in which Edvinsson takes the step over to North America to try and establish himself in Detroit. For Wallinder, another year awaits in Rogle.
What steps do you think they can take during the upcoming season?
“It’s extremely difficult to speculate about that. I’ve been doing this for 30 years. I’ve seen guys go on and make strides. I’ve seen guys fall flat, so it’s super hard to know. You could say this: if you look for the defensive curve for the likes of Wallinder and Edvinsson, they point rather steeply upwards, like the year before. If they continue upward, if they do. It’s a big “IF.” ]
They are the most relevant for the national team. Both Rogle and Frolunda are top teams in Sweden and they were among the leading defensemen for different periods. If they continue upwards, then things will happen. But it’s a big “if.” If they flatten out, it’s a different scenario. If you think that you’re the Aidan Ball and slack off a bit in practice, it should not happen. I’ve seen players do it. I’m not saying that they will, but you have to be on your toes.”
In addition to Edvinsson and Wallinder, there are other players drafted by Detroit in the Junior Krona in Edmonton. Theodor Niederbach is a player that Andersson believes in a lot, and believes that many people may not have opened their eyes to him until now during the WJC.
“It’s exactly the same with Niederbach. I think he can do even more. He’s a super smart player and it’s starting to show now. People are starting to see all his little clever things that he does during the game. Passes pucks to the defensemen and shuts down certain angles. But I think he can do even more. They have said that he will earn a bigger role with Rogle, and so he will be exciting to follow.”
For Sweden, it’s been a bit of a tentative start to the WJC. It’s clear, Andersson also wants to point out, that the players are not in top form when the tournament is played like this in the summer. But with each game, the Junior Krona get closer and closer to the highest level. A quarter-final meeting against Latvia awaits on Wednesday.
Will we see some different hockey now in the playoff rounds?
“Yes, I really think so. With each game and practice, they start to feel more comfortable in their roles and everything from the way their skates sit, to the new gloves, a different angle on their sticks. There are lots of things that come into play. But it’s clear that things are going in a better direction.”
“It’s hard to say how things are going, both the USA and Canada look strong. We should be able to be top three, top four, I think. If you’re going to hit the USA and Canada, then you’re going to need to have a really good day. Personal best day. But they should be able to reach the semifinals.
For Andersson, the summer of 2022 has meant a lot of work and some time off. In addition to the NHL Draft in July, he was over in Canada to see the Hlinka-Gretzky Cup.
What do you take with you from there?
“Anything is possible. It’s August hockey, you can’t forget that. So, to be completely honest, you don’t get any great reflections. But you get a number of names that you want to keep checking upon. It was fun that they got to the Final, Sweden. After all, they have some on the first line who were expected to be a bit of a leader, which they were. Then you can discuss whether they were leading as you expected. Nicely even team. I heard from the coaches that they also had a camp before where even they thought it was an even camp. So it should happen that there were guys who got the chance during the winter that didn’t earn the chance now.”
Sees great potential in Elmer Soderblom
The tiro of Simon Edvinsson, William Wallinder and Theodor Niederbach are players that Andersson will follow with excitement in the coming season as they take further steps toward becoming Swedish stars. But there will also be great focus on Elmer Soderblom. The tall Gothenburger showed high-class during the past season in Frolunda with his unique skills. Now he must adapt his game to the smaller North American rink to sooner or later earn a spot on Detroit.
“He had a great season, he scored a lot of points in Frolunda, found chemistry with Ryan Lasch. He’s got a goal-scoring ability, he’s got size, he’s got the hands. Where does he fit in Detroit? It’s impossible to say. Will Elmer be patient, we hope so. It’s clear that he’s excruciating. That’s why wee drafted him and brought him over. It’s because we see NHL potential in him. That’s why he’s hear. Then how good he will be? It’s like with everyone else, you never know. The years go by and you see what happens. He seems like a super nice guy as well, so it will probably go far, I think so.”
Do you think he resembles someone, or is he unique?
“I can say that it’s very unusual to be 2 meters tall and have such skilled hands. I don’t know who to compare it it. There aren’t many normal-sized players who have his techniques, it’s awesome. Then you can be big and strong, and go for goals, and so on, but those hands mean that he has a bit of an edge that not everyone has. It will be fun to see how he adapts to North American rinks.”
