We’ve talked about Red Wings prospect defenseman Antti Tuomisto several times this summer, discussing the fact that the hulking defender chose an unconventional path to “bet on himself” last year.
He left the University of Denver after two seasons spent in North America to head back to Europe, playing in 60 games for TPS Turku of the Finnish Liiga.
Quite a few people wrote Tuomisto off as a prospect who succumbed to homesickness (and earning a quick buck), but the truth was that he played so well as a first-year professional that the Red Wings chose to sign the 6’5,” 205-pound right shooter to an entry-level contract.
This morning, the Free Press’s Helene St. James adds her voice to the chorus, discussing the remarks that Tuomisto made at the Red Wings’ summer development camp:
“There’s a lot of skating in Finland, too, with a bigger sheet, and puck battles — with bigger guys, it’s harder,” Tuomisto said earlier this summer at development camp. “I think that helped me a lot. Skating is a big thing for me, as a big guy, you have to be able to skate. And if I want to defend good, I have to be good in the battles.”
Tuomisto is part of what projects to be a competitive defense corps in Grand Rapids. Simon Edvinsson, the No. 6 pick in 2021, logged nine games with the Wings last season, and while he did some good things, he also was prone to being caught out of position. Over the summer, general manager Steve Yzerman added defensemen Shayne Gostisbehere, Justin Holl and Jeff Petry, an indication that the organization does not yet see Edvinsson ready to be a full-timer in the NHL. The Griffins also have Albert Johansson and William Wallinder on the roster.
The Griffins might also have Jared McIsaac and/or Eemil Viro on their roster, though Brogan Rafferty, Wyatt Newpower and AHL-contracted Josiah Didier are all going to push the youngsters for playing time.
Anyway, Tuomisto suggested that his decision to go back to Finland was a calculated risk:
“I thought about it for a long time, for months, what’s the right decision for my future,” Tuomisto said. “But I think I made a good choice. I got a bigger role maybe than I had in Denver and also play with older guys, a little bigger guys in Finland. After playing two years in college it’s not going to be a completely new thing for me playing in North America. It’s going to be higher than college, so I have to see what that’s going to be like.”
St. James continues, and it will be interesting to see how Tuomisto re-adapts to the North American game. He’ll play during the fall prospect tournament, and then head off to training camp.
