Ahead of today’s game between the Red Wings’ prospects and Columbus Blue Jackets’ prospects, DetroitRedWings.com’s Jonathan Mills posted a profile of Wings defenseman William Wallinder. Wallinder is one of the organization’s brightest prospects, and he’s making the jump to North America this season:
“That was a good test for me to see how it is to play on the small ice,” Wallinder said Friday at Centre Ice Arena. “It’s a lot quicker and you need to make decisions faster.”
Last season with Rogle BK, Wallinder compiled 26 points (7-19—26) in 50 regular-season games to go along with three points in nine postseason contests. His 26 points were tied for the most among any skater 22 years old or younger in Sweden’s top professional league.
“There’s a lot of good players there,” Wallinder said about the SHL. “It’s a great league. To play professional for a couple years in Sweden for sure has helped me get to where I am now.”
Wallinder, who signed a three-year entry level contract with Detroit on March 27, made his North American debut with the Griffins on April 2 at the Rockford IceHogs.
The 6-foot-4, 190-pound blueliner said while training in Detroit this summer, he focused on adapting his game to the North American rink.
“It’s a big change,” Wallinder said. “The way we play back in Sweden is a lot different than here. More possession back home than here.”
Continued; Wallinder is definitely going to face an adjustment period in terms of making decisions more quickly and moving the puck with pace, but he’s got all the tools necessary to succeed.
