Recalled/Assigned: Soderblom recalled by the Wings

The biggest knock on Soderblom was lack of consistency from night to night. For such a big man, he has to stay visible every night.
 
I too had written off Elmer as a prospect, not including him in my top 20 for the first poll. To me, it looked like he just couldn't figure things out, what he needed to do and where, always a second slow in his decision-making even at AHL pace last season. The skating is better but he is still lumbering around a lot of the time. The big change is that he has a better understanding of what he needs to do, is physically engaged and a force along the boards. He's always had good hands, which is the biggest difference between him and Rasmussen and most of the other grinders on the team. Tarasenko has been so bad most of the season that I'd give Elmer a look on the third line in the not too distant future and on PP2. It's great that he is giving himself a decent chance to have an NHL career because he is dangerous around the net and hard to handle anywhere.
 
I liked him a lot as a prospect but it just hasn’t come together for him. He's kind of fallen into Emmerton territory… not good enough for the top 6, and not industrious enough for the bottom 6.
The really annoying thing about Veleno is that you see it sometimes. He throws the body around one game, has a good fight against Perry etc etc.... while being able to skate and kill a penalty. Hes really versatile. If he molded himself into a harder to play against layer (that he shows flashes of), he could play in the league for a long time.

Instead hes starting to look like hes just another body
 
The really annoying thing about Veleno is that you see it sometimes. He throws the body around one game, has a good fight against Perry etc etc.... while being able to skate and kill a penalty. Hes really versatile. If he molded himself into a harder to play against layer (that he shows flashes of), he could play in the league for a long time.

Instead hes starting to look like hes just another body
Yeah he actually is a really good athlete, it seems. You would think he would have the versatility to play in the bottom 6. I think it might be hard for him to embrace that role, maybe. I also think his IQ is maybe not the best.
 
Love the big man line the team has going. They were cycling the puck very well. Wouldn’t mind Soderblom being up on that line for the rest of the year.

Do I think he has top 6 potential? Absolutely yes. But I’ve also thought Rasmussen has looked great playing beside him and often #27 goes unnoticed for such a big man.

Our 4th line finally have a purpose with Soderblom there. I don’t think Veleno is a 4C/W. 2nd W or 3C/W is what he needs. He’s a player lacking confidence right now.

Would love to see some PP time for Soderblom. What a net presence he can be. He also has silky smooth mitts and is skilled enough to play with our top players.


Nonetheless, another young-ish player bringing some much needed extra excitement to the team. I’m sure he’ll score a highlight reel goal sooner or later regardless what line he plays on.
 
Yeah he actually is a really good athlete, it seems. You would think he would have the versatility to play in the bottom 6. I think it might be hard for him to embrace that role, maybe. I also think his IQ is maybe not the best.
Bingo. At his worst he looks absolutely paralyzed at times. His better hockey is useful. I just wish we saw more of it.
 
I just said it in the gdt but ill repost it here. Soderbloms hands, feet and size combo allows for him to go on rushes and create offence out of nothing here and there. That rush tonight where he set up Rasmussen and almost batted the puck in out of the air was more offence than Veleno, Rasmussen or Motte have shown in their careers. He kinda reminds me of Athanasiou in that way where every now and then he could just make a highlight happen and create offence. Combine that with his ability to get his stick in lanes, physical game and puck protection... he might become a pretty useful player
 
I just said it in the gdt but ill repost it here. Soderbloms hands, feet and size combo allows for him to go on rushes and create offence out of nothing here and there. That rush tonight where he set up Rasmussen and almost batted the puck in out of the air was more offence than Veleno, Rasmussen or Motte have shown in their careers. He kinda reminds me of Athanasiou in that way where every now and then he could just make a highlight happen and create offence. Combine that with his ability to get his stick in lanes, physical game and puck protection... he might become a pretty useful player

Oh AA. What a flash in the pan.
 
Tbh he should have been on the Wings for years. Not like we have this star studded team he needs to beat out to make the roster.
Been saying for the longest time hed be someone who would player better in the nhl with better talent around him

He should have been up sooner,berggren last season... we like to "overripe" guys into oblivion here. I expect danielson to make it but since he has like 4 goals in the ahl I wouldn't be shocked to see him back there next season

Yzerman needs to find a way to get rid of guys like compher,tarasenko,veleno etc.. to make room for soderblom to be on the top 9,mazur, danielson etc...
 
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Soderblom was not on the Wings sooner because he did not deserve to be on the Wings sooner. Until this year Soderblom has played a pretty disengaged brand of hockey. The Soderblom you are seeing today is playing much different than the Soderblom of last year to the point where I was ready to give up on him as an NHL prospect if he didn't turn things around, and he started to turn things around only recently with some crediting Austin Watson for helping him out. His play really started to turn around maybe 2 months ago now? If new Elmer keeps showing up, hes an NHL player. If he reverts to old Elmer, hes outta here.
 
Sodersaurus is my new favorite player. And if I was ever so lucky enough to dig out dinosaur fossils I’m claiming it as that.

Dude has had a couple dominant shifts. If he can sustain this and start to put up points I will go out on a limb and say he might be a gem/hella late bloomer.

He’s actually kind of nasty at the moment. Just no points.

And I took an edible — So I’m just fired up.
 
Tbh he should have been on the Wings for years. Not like we have this star studded team he needs to beat out to make the roster.

Been saying for the longest time hed be someone who would player better in the nhl with better talent around him

He should have been up sooner,berggren last season... we like to "overripe" guys into oblivion here. I expect danielson to make it but since he has like 4 goals in the ahl I wouldn't be shocked to see him back there next season

Yzerman needs to find a way to get rid of guys like compher,tarasenko,veleno etc.. to make room for soderblom to be on the top 9,mazur, danielson etc...
I dont think anyone who watched him play in GR last season would say Soderblom should have been up with Detroit earlier. Him being down there with Watson tellingh im to get meaner seemed to break something out in him that he definitely hasnt had before this year.

This time last year I was guessing he would end up back in Sweden
 
The really annoying thing about Veleno is that you see it sometimes. He throws the body around one game, has a good fight against Perry etc etc.... while being able to skate and kill a penalty. Hes really versatile. If he molded himself into a harder to play against layer (that he shows flashes of), he could play in the league for a long time.

Instead hes starting to look like hes just another body

This and also how I feel about Rasmussen. With less moments of showing it than Veleno.
 
Been saying for the longest time hed be someone who would player better in the nhl with better talent around him

He should have been up sooner,berggren last season... we like to "overripe" guys into oblivion here. I expect danielson to make it but since he has like 4 goals in the ahl I wouldn't be shocked to see him back there next season

Yzerman needs to find a way to get rid of guys like compher,tarasenko,veleno etc.. to make room for soderblom to be on the top 9,mazur, danielson etc...
Söderblom needed time. He was called up exactly when everything starting clicking at the AHL level. Also, GR success is important. With Mazur back bringing Elmer up didn’t hurt that team so much.
 
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Söderblom needed time. He was called up exactly when everything starting clicking at the AHL level. Also, GR success is important. With Mazur back bringing Elmer up didn’t hurt that team so much.
Agreed. I look forward to when more kids are clicking and Detroit can axe a few veteran doorstops. This roster is a borderline dichotomy (that thankfully is headed in the right direction).
 
Honestly it's a little disturbing how it only took two games for me to rate Soderblom higher than Ras and Veleno. Those guys frustrate me to no end. They clearly could be good but just choose to suck instead

Agree, while Veleno to me is worse than Ras. I would just waive him at this point. For simply not deserving an NHL roster spot.

New coach coming in, giving him a first line chance, and him not getting anything done again - just closed the case for me.
 
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Soderblom was not on the Wings sooner because he did not deserve to be on the Wings sooner. Until this year Soderblom has played a pretty disengaged brand of hockey. The Soderblom you are seeing today is playing much different than the Soderblom of last year to the point where I was ready to give up on him as an NHL prospect if he didn't turn things around, and he started to turn things around only recently with some crediting Austin Watson for helping him out. His play really started to turn around maybe 2 months ago now? If new Elmer keeps showing up, hes an NHL player. If he reverts to old Elmer, hes outta here.
Yep, Elmer was down to work on a few things, which he was slowly getting it done as a whole package until recently. I do think the broken foot slowed him down a little, but that now seems past him. (Them big guys can take a while to get back on track)

From memory, Elmer took a bad hit earlier this season at GR and missed a few games, when he got back, he decided to take a page from "Hockey, here's Howe" and learned it is far better to give than receive. He had already worked hard on his skating and defense, but then worked real hard on his contact play, even had a fight (which he won). I suspect he can thank Austin for helping to get him back on track.

Since Christmas, the points started to come back to go with a more complete tool kit. He earned call up, I think he was around a PPG for a week or two when he was brought up.

If he is unafraid to get involved in scrums and keep the other team in line, I think he is now up for good and the wings have another GR graduate on the roster.
 
I dont think anyone who watched him play in GR last season would say Soderblom should have been up with Detroit earlier. Him being down there with Watson tellingh im to get meaner seemed to break something out in him that he definitely hasnt had before this year.

This time last year I was guessing he would end up back in Sweden
Maybe I was delusional but I thought he looked good his first 20 game stretch in the nhl and been saying since last year I thought he'd be better in the nhl with better talent surrounding him. With his size and what he showed i wasnt ready to let go of what he could be for us

Like you I thought the way it was going he was sadly going to the shl soon or at least to another team. Glad he added a mean streak and it's all worked out in the end. Dont expect him to go back down

I'd now like to see us retain watson as well and make him an extra forward next season and continue to mentor elmer to keep his momentum going
 
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Maybe I was delusional but I thought he looked good his first 20 game stretch in the nhl and been saying since last year I thought he'd be better in the nhl with better talent surrounding him. With his size and what he showed i wasnt ready to let go of what he could be for us

Like you I thought the way it was going he was sadly going to the shl soon or at least to another team. Glad he added a mean streak and it's all worked out in the end. Dont expect him to go back down

I'd now like to see us retain watson as well and make him an extra forward next season and continue to mentor elmer to keep his momentum going
I also really liked what I saw when he was first called up a couple of seasons ago. He had a useful toolset but was still pretty raw. I really thought we would have seen him on the roster before now but I guess he lost his way a bit, which is worrisome. I don't know how I feel about someone following the Mantha trajectory. Anyway, I'm glad he's putting it together and I hope he stays hungry.
 
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I also really liked what I saw when he was first called up a couple of seasons ago. He had a useful toolset but was still pretty raw. I really thought we would have seen him on the roster before now but I guess he lost his way a bit, which is worrisome. I don't know how I feel about someone following the Mantha trajectory. Anyway, I'm glad he's putting it together and I hope he stays hungry.
It seems to have all worked out in the end so long as he keeps being more physical with players. I think he belongs at least on the 3rd line and 2nd ppl shifts should head his way

We could use a 6'8 physical forward who has skill. He can be a very important piece to our future
 
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And by the looks of it, yet another prospect with some time spent in AHL, now looking like a veteran in NHL and immediately contributing in winning effort. No wonder Yzerman likes using AHL, sharpens the rough edges away. And people still doubt AHL's developmental aspect, quite a few young men already in this roster who went through that route and has seriously improved the team.
 
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