Updated at 8:27 AM: Red Wings prospect defenseman Anton Johansson has the Red Wings in something of a pickle. Anton doesn’t need waivers to be sent down to Grand Rapids, so, in an ideal world, he’d be moved down for the start of the regular season over, say, William Wallinder or Jacob Bernard-Docker, who might be picked up on the waiver wire.
There’s a small problem with the equation, however, and it’s the fact that 22-year-old Anton has played fantastic hockey over the course of three exhibition games, posting 5 assists and looking more and more NHL-ready as he works the kinks out of his defensive game and displays surprisingly strong offensive chops.
This morning, the Free Press’s Helene St. James duly noted that Johansson earned significant praise from coach Todd McLellan and teammate Alex DeBrincat after last night’s 3-2 OT win over Buffalo:
“Clearly he’s played real well and unfortunately for some others that have played well, but they haven’t been able to play at Anton’s level to this point,” McLellan said. “Will it continue on? I don’t know.”
On Thursday, Johansson (6 feet 4, 203 pounds) set up fellow right-shot defender Axel Sandin-Pellikka during a power play in the first period.
“I feel good, I feel better and better in every game,” Johansson said. “It builds confidence. When you score points, you get confidence. When you play good, you get confidence. So yeah, I’m full of confidence right now.”
Coach McLellan knows that Johansson and Wallinder will force Detroit into some tough decisions, especially when the team re-signs Simon Edvinsson. Still, McLellan sees pluses in the play of the younger Johansson and Axel Sandin Pellikka…
William Wallinder hasn’t shined offensively during his three exhibition tests – the Wings wrap up the preseason at home against the Columbus Blue Jackets on Saturday (7 p.m., Detroit SportsNet – but he has played a pretty steady game in his own zone, and that’s making an impression, too. He is no longer waiver-exempt, so while he projects to be on the roster, it’s another thing to force his way into the lineup.
“Our back end has been involved in a lot of offense so far in the exhibition season,” McLellan said. “I’d like to see that continue. And it’s not necessarily a careless offense. We got dinged for a two-on-one today, a little bit careless, but other than that we haven’t really given up too many outnumbered rushes. We’ve been able to check fairly well and still have our D-man involved in the play, so that’s a good sign.”
And Alex DeBrincat said this about the superb performances of Anton and Sandin Pellikka over the course of the first three exhibition games:
“I mean, it’s huge, I think,” Alex DeBrincat said. “The quicker we move it up the ice, the more offensive zone time we’re going to have and then obviously in the O-zone, those guys are elite and can really hold the puck and get it through and create chances that way. It helps us move as a five-man unit. That’s something we need to do better and we’ve really focused on breaking the puck out and spending less time in our D-zone. Those guys can help us that way in defending and then moving it up quick to the forwards and we can play north a lot quicker instead of turning it back and creating turnovers that way.”
Update: MLive’s Ansar Khan offers more commentary and context regarding Johansson’s strong play:
McLellan hasn’t decided if Johansson will play in the final preseason game Saturday at home vs. Columbus (7 p.m., Detroit Sports Network). The season-opening roster must be submitted on Monday, though changes can be made up until the first game Oct. 2 against the New York Rangers.
“I feel better and better every game,” Johansson said. “I think it was good for me to get those rookie tournament games to get into it for real. Of course it builds confidence. You score points, you get confidence. When you play good, you get confidence. I’m full of confidence right now. I came into camp with a lot of confidence. I played really good last year in (Grand Rapids). I know what I’m capable of.”
Johansson described himself as a two-way defender.
“I got my upside in offense, but I’m trying to be reliable in the defensive zone,” he said.
Johansson has impressed veterans like Alex DeBrincat.
“He’s been great,” DeBrincat said. “He gets pucks through from the point and helps us forwards just know it’s going there, get to the net. He’s been getting his points, but there’s so much more to his game. He’s defending well. He’s moving the puck well.”
