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Duffer’s Dabbles: Red Wings Prospect Wallinder Dealing With World Junior Snub

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William Wallinder, Detroit Red Wings
Rogle defenseman and Detroit Red Wings prospect William Wallinder wasn't included on the roster for the Swedish world junior tourney team.

Detroit Red Wings prospect William Willander is trying to take his exclusion from the Swedish world junior team in stride. At the same time, the defenseman would like to know the reasons why he wasn’t among those included in Sweden’s squad.



“I’m disappointed, of course,” Wallinder, 19, told Simon Holm of Sweden’s Aftonbladet.se. “I think I have been good enough and that I deserved to be selected. But it’s not me who takes the team out.

“Of course I wanted an explanation. But it is what it is.”

COVID Cost Red Wings Pick 2021 World Juniors

Wallinder was chosen to play for Sweden at the world juniors last season. However, a case of COVID-19 put a stop to his participation.

“That makes it extra sour,” Wallinder admitted. “First I got sick with corona and now  . . . I think I’m a better player today than I was last season.”

While Wallinder is insisting that he’s received no rationale for the decision from Swedish coach Thomas Monten, Red Wings advisor to the GM Niklas Kronwall did reach out to him.

“His advice was to just let it go and focus on Rögle and do the best I can,” Wallinder said. “I have developed a lot in Rögle, both on the ice and outside. I am very happy with my performance,.

“It makes me even more disappointed with the selection. But now I only focus on Rögle and our journey in the SHL and CHL.”

Selected 32nd overall by the Red Wings in the 2020 NHL entry draft, Wallinder is showing 4-6-10 numbers in 22 games for Rögle this season.

Red Wings draft picks Simon Edvinsson and Theodor Niederbach were Swedish team selections.

Down On The Farm

The Grand Rapids Griffins fell 4-2 to the Manitoba Moose in an AHL game taking place on Friday. Tyler Spezia and Turner Elson scored for GR.

Defenseman Seth Barton made his season debut for Detroit’s top farm club after missing much of training camp and all of the season to date through injury.

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Vancouver: Former Red Wings goalie and Hockey Hall of Fame builder Jim Rutherford is back in the game as President of hockey operations and interim GM of the Canucks.