Detroit Red Wings

Red Wings Prospects Shining in European Preseason

Red Wings 2022 draftee Dmitri Buchelnikov is a contender for KHL rookie of the year

Published

2 years ago

August 27, 2022

Bob Duff

Marco Kasper scored two goals for Rogle in a recent SHL preseason victory.

It’s only preseason, so all outcomes should be taken with a grain of salt. Still, the fact of the matter is that a trio Detroit Red Wings 2022 draft picks are doing their utmost to stake their claims to larger roles with their European clubs.

Red Wings Top Pick Kasper Nets Pair For Rogle

The eighth player chosen in the 2022 NHL entry draft, Detroit’s first-round pick Marco Kasper was first rate during a 4-0 shutout of Vaxjo. Kasper opened the scoring with the eventual game winner. He added the fourth goal of the game for Rogle as well.

Marco Kasper snipes his 2nd goal of the game #LGRW pic.twitter.com/BAFwZZAXfw

— IcehockeyGifs (@IcehockeyG) August 26, 2022

“Of course it’s nice to score two goals and help the team win,” Kasper told Rogle’s website. “The whole team is doing well. We are starting to find the right things in the chains and are starting to build chemistry in the whole team.”

Rogle’s two other Red Wings prospects, forward Theodor Niederbach and defenseman William Wallinder saw their first club action since returning from the World Junior. Both Niederbach (2C) and Kasper (3C) lined up at center in the game.

Johansson With Three-Point Game For Leksand

Defenseman Anton Johansson, selected 105th overall in the 2022 draft, continues to make a case for a role with Leksand.

During a 5-4 victory over Brynas, the 18-year-old defenseman netted a goal and dished out a pair of assists. The son of Leksand sporting director Thomas Johansson began last season playing for the club’s J18 squad.

Anton Johansson, #3 in white, had a goal and two assists in another impressive preseason showing with Leksands IF today. #LGRW pic.twitter.com/Vw9R3Xq9Vs

— IcehockeyGifs (@IcehockeyG) August 24, 2022

He wound up playing four games in the SHL. More could be in his future if he continues to perform this effectively.

“It is incredibly fun to be with the first team,” Anton Johansson told Cmore.se. “I feel that I am developing.”

Touting Buchelnikov For KHL Top Rookie

In an article on KHL.ru, KHL TV commentator Anton Vasyatin was touting Red Wings draft pick Dmitri Buchelnikov (52nd overall, 2022) as a contender for the Alexei Cherepanov Prize as the KHL’s top rookie performer.

Describing Buchelnikov as a “fast, nimble forward,” Vasyatin is also noting that it will be a challenge for Buchelnikov to crack the SKA St. Petersburg lineup.

🚨 Dmitri Buchelnikov PP #LGRW
4-1 SKA #Puchkov #KHL pic.twitter.com/dWWNIyLsvb

— Hockey News Hub (@HockeyNewsHub) August 26, 2022

The fact that he shoots right, a rare quality among Russian players, could help him earn the opportunity. Though he’s been skating on the fourth line in preseason, Buchelnikov is producing on the SKA power play.

“His main advantage is his shot,” Vasytin noted of Buchelnikov. “Even in the most difficult situations in terms of receiving the puck, Buchelnikov manages to handle it without problems and shoot it very sharply and accurately.”