97.1 the Ticket’s Will Burchfield notes this about Red Wings forward Elmer Soderblom, who signed a 2-year, $2.5 million contract with the Red Wings earlier today…
A 6’8 forward who’s come a long way since being drafted in the sixth-round in 2019, Söderblom scored four goals and 11 points in 26 games with the Wings last season, earning more ice time in March and April. His size and improved skating made him an effective fore-checker. He also has some skill to make plays, which earned him a look at one point on Detroit’s top line.
It was a modest but important step forward for a player who spent all of the season prior in Grand Rapids after debuting with the Red Wings in 2022-23. When he finally got another look last season following the team’s coaching change from Derek Lalonde to Todd McLellan, Söderblom didn’t disappoint.
“It feels like my confidence got better and better during my time here,” he said at the end of the season. “I’m looking forward to next season to prove even more.”
Söderblom missed the final three games of the season with an injury, but will be good to go for training camp.
“I want to keep working on every detail,” he said. “It takes a lot of small details to play in this league. Be physical and use my size to my advantage, and keep playing my game.”
And Detroit Hockey Now’s Bob Duff added this:
“There’s big players in the NHL,” Detroit coach Todd McLellan said. “Some don’t have the hands, or the instincts, and size just becomes one-dimensional. I think Elmer has the other tools to go with it. Once he learns to use it effectively and to leverage it against defensive players while he’s looking for people to make plays to or timing, and using it and getting to the net, it can be a factor. He grew up on a different sheet of ice, game’s played a little bit differently. He’s had enough time to come over and adapt, and learn to react at the American League level.”
Soderblom believes that another factor is turning him into an NHLer. It’s learning how to be a consistent, reliable presence in the lineup.
“I think just the everyday, like the way you play every day, you have to find a way to play for 82 games,” Soderblom explained. “You have to find a way to be consistent. I think a lot of the veteran guys know how to do that. I mean, they bring something to the table every night, so I think just find a way to be consistent. It’s going to be huge for me, and I think that’s a step in the right direction.”
