The Detroit News’s Ted Kulfan filed a notebook article about Red Wings 2023 1st round draft pick Nate Danielson, but it’s his second topic that you should be reading today:
With forwards Carter Mazur and Matt Luff both out with long-term injuries, it possibly betters the odds for Jonatan Berggren and Elmer Soderblom to make the opening night roster.
Then again, if neither is actually in the lineup but rather a healthy scratch or maybe not seeing meaningful minutes, would it be better for them to play in Grand Rapids? What happens during the exhibition season will answer those questions.
“It’s something we’ll evaluate,” Lalonde said of the Berggren and Soderblom issue. “We’d like to have the luxury of having 13 or 14 forwards. We’re two forwards down long term with the Mazur and Luff injuries. They (Berggren and Soderblom) are very raw in their development. It’s something we’ll evaluate after the eight (exhibition) games.”
Berggren, 23, played in 67 games with the Wings last season, with 15 goals and 13 assists. He got off to a quick start and sparked the Wings offensively, but he tailed off as the season progressed.
Soderblom, 22, made the opening night roster last year as injuries cut into the Wings’ depth. But as those players got healthy, Soderblom’s role diminished and he was returned to Grand Rapids. Soderblom did come back, but he was sent back and eventually saw his season cut short by injury.
Soderblom played 21 games with the Wings, with five goals and three assists.
