Detroit Red Wings

The Daily: Niederbach Playing His Way Back Into Red Wings Prospect Reckoning; Makar Out For Avalanche

Niederbach dropped out of the SHL this season

Published

1 year ago

April 26, 2023

Bob Duff

Red Wings draftee Theodor Niederbach is helping MoDo get back to the SHL.

When forward Theodor Niederbach was jettisoned earlier this season by Rogle of the SHL, it appeared at the time that his hopes of someday playing for the Detroit Red Wings was also being sunk.

Demoted to MoDo of the Allvenskan, going down to Sweden’s second tier has proven to be a first-rate experience for Niederbach, the right-winger selected 51st overall in the 2020 NHL entry draft.

Through 14 playoff games, Niederbach is sitting with 3-7-10 totals. It’s a much better number than the 7-11-18 digits he was able to muster up during 31 regular-season games.

MoDo is one win away from earning a promotion to the SHL, leading the Allsvenskan finals 3 games to 1 against Djurgården.

Theodor Niederbach has 10 points in 14 playoff games, including this goal from yesterday's game: pic.twitter.com/UCNsJOmO47

— IcehockeyGifs (@IcehockeyG) April 24, 2023

MoDo leads Djurgarden 3-1 in the best-of-seven series to determine which club will earn promotion to the SHL for next season. Game 5 is set for Wednesday.

Getting back to the SHL will be huge for Niederbach. He’ll get one last chance to prove to the Red Wings that he’s worthy of an NHL contract. Detroit will have until June 1, 2024 to decide whether to sign Niederbach or set him free.

Niederbach signed a two-year extension with MoDo in February, meaning he wouldn’t be coming to North America prior to the 2025-26 NHL season.

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Red Wings Offseason

Three former Red Wings farmhands with the Grand Rapids Griffins are undergoing different fortunes in the SHL. Goaltender Jussi Olkinuora has been let go by Brynas after the club was relegated to the Allsvenskan.

He only joined the Swedish club after being released by the Red Wings from his contract. Olkinuora spent the first part of the 2022-23 campaign with the Griffins.

Meanwhile, goalie Filip Larsson, once thought of as Detroit’s goalie of the future, is joining Leksand of the SHL. The 2016 Detroit draftee split the 2019-20 season between the Griffins and ECHL Toledo Walleye.

Vasteras of Hockey Allsvenskan, the Swedish team of Red Wings legend Nicklas Lidstrom, have signed forward Hayden Verbeek. The nephew of Anaheim Ducks GM Pat Verbeek was with the Griffins and Walleye from 2020-22.

Hockey Now Network

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Florida: Who’s in goal for Game 5 against Boston? The Florida Panthers aren’t saying.

Vegas: Where to the Vegas Golden Knights rank in the latest Stanley Cup odds?

Colorado: The Colorado Avalanche will be playing Game 5 against the Seattle Kraken minus Norris Trophy winner Cale Makar. The NHL has issued a one-game suspension to Makar for his Game 4 hit on Seattle’s Jared McCann.

Los Angeles: Could the return of forward Kevin Fiala be the boost that the Los Angeles Kings require?