Detroit Red Wings
Griffins’ Prospect Update: Soderblom Numbers Are Growing

When Grand Rapids Griffins forward Elmer Soderblom was building up a heavy supply of shots on goal and frustration from his lack of scoring success, his coach Dan Watson said Soderblom’s shot total meant his offense was eventually going to show up.
With seven points in his last eight games, Soderblom may be entering the productive period that Watson saw coming.
The Central Division-leading Griffins have two home games against the Cleveland Monsters tonight and Saturday. Soderblom is one of the relevent Grand Rapids storylines from the Red Wings fans perspective:
Left Wing Elmer Soderblom (159th, 2019)
Soderblom is 23 and in the last season of his NHL entry level contract. He will be a restricted free agent this summer and the team will have a decision to make. He still only has four goals and 15 points. But the fact that he was recently playing with first rounder Nate Danielson would suggest they haven’t given up on him.
He still leads the team in shots on goal (84) and his 6-foot-8, 250-plus frame makes him intriguing. He’s never going to be the physical force the Red Wings would like him be, but size is always important no matter how physical the player is. It wears down opponents to deal with bigger players.
On the positive side: three of his goals have come in the last eight games. He shows 10 points over the past 15 games. That’s close to a 50-point pace.
Center Nate Danielson (Ninth, 2023)
To say the least, the former Western Hockey League standout has been inconsistent in his production. He had four points in his first 12 games this season, and then had 12 points in 12 games.
Over his last 16 games, he has gone pointless 12 times. But he has also showed three multiple point games, including a two-point effort in this week’s win against the Chicago Wolves.
On the positive side, he does have 21 points in 36 games. He’s also plus-seven.
The main factor for Danielson is that he’s 20, and younger players usually come with inconsistency as a standard feature.
Left Wing Carter Mazur (70th, 2021)
The Griffins, Red Wings organization and their fans have been waiting for the return of Mazur from his injury. This is a player who seemed to have the possibility of playing with the Red Wings this season. He played impressively well alongside Marco Kasper with the Griffins last season. But he has been limited to three Griffins game because of injury.
No return date has been set, but it seems possible that he could be ready before the end of the month.
Injury Update@bkaser1 just announced that Carter Mazur will be starting contact drills next week, return should be a few more weeks.
Amadeus Lombardi return is uncertain could be a few weeks could be a month. #GoGRG #LGRW
— Hockeytown West Podcast (@HockeytownWpod) January 5, 2025
Goalie Sebastian Cossa (15th, 2021)
Cossa has surrendered two or fewer goals in 12 of 21 appearances (57.1%). His 2.33 goals-against average and .917 save percentage are primary factors in the Griffins’ success.
At 22, the 6-foot-6 Cossa is still very young by NHL goalie standards. By comparison, Montreal’s recently promoted rookie Jakub Dobes will be 24 in May.
But the Red Wings are certainly pleased with the upward trend of his development.