Detroit Hockey Now’s Kevin Allen discusses the possibility of Big Elmer Soderblom making the Red Wings’ roster out of training camp and the exhibition season, presuming that the 22-year-old does certain things correctly:
Elmer Soderblom knows that learning how to be an effective big NHL player is no small task.
“I just have to show I can be a player who makes a difference out there, a reliable guy,” Six-foot-eight Detroit Red Wings forward Elmer Soderblom said. “…I am different from everyone with the size. Have to take advantage of that.”
Soderblom is embracing his size at the NHL Prospects Tournament at Centre Ice Arena. He looked particularly beastly in Thursday’s 4-2 loss to the Dallas Stars. Soderblom scored a goal, generated six shots on goal and used his impressive length, width and reach to claim pucks all night. The man weighs 250 pounds. He followed that up with another goal in Detroit’s 10-7 loss to the Columbus Blue Jackets on Saturday. Former University of Michigan player Adam Fantilli had three goals and two assists, plus nine shots on goal, for Columbus
“The size and strength he has — that’s a skill. You can’t teach that skill,” Red Wings assistant general manager Kris Draper said. “The beauty of the other night was that he got angry. That was something.”
