Red Wings Recall Soderblom From AHL Griffins

The Detroit Red Wings are facing a big game Tuesday night in Philadelphia against the Flyers. And they are getting bigger to face up to this huge challenge.

Tuesday morning, the Red Wings were recalling 6-foot-8, 250-pound left-winger Elmer Soderblom from the AHL Grand Rapids Griffins. A roster spot became available earlier in the week when goaltender Ville Husso was returned to the Griffins. Detroit is also short a forward. Tyler Motte remains out with an upper-body injury.

UPDATE: The #RedWings have recalled Elmer Soderblom from the AHL’s Grand Rapids Griffins. pic.twitter.com/Z3jCh7sJ0F

— Detroit Red Wings (@DetroitRedWings) January 21, 2025

It will be the first taste of NHL action for Soderblom since the 2022-23 season. That season, he would play 21 games in Detroit, scoring five goals and collecting three assists.

Red Wings In Need Of Bottom-Six Scoring

Offensively, the Red Wings currently aren’t getting much in the way of production from their bottom-six group of forwards. Michael Rasmussen hasn’t scored in the past 15 games. Christian Fischer has one goal in 34 games. Joe Veleno has netted once in 13 games. Motte has two goals in 28 games, while Vladimir Tarasenko has scored twice in 22 games, both in the same game. JT Compher shows three goals in 37 games.

Only Jonatan Berggren, with three goals in the last 10 games, is finding the back of the net with any sort of consistency. That was earning him a look among the top-six forwards later in Sunday’s 4-1 road loss to the Dallas Stars.

🚨SODERBLOM!!!🚨

Elmer seals the game with an empty net goal!#GoGRG #LGRW pic.twitter.com/4eTiIZKL6S

— Hockeytown West Podcast (@HockeytownWpod) January 19, 2025

Of late, Soderblom is delivering in the offensive end of the rink. The hulking Swede has six points (3-3-6) in the last five games for the Griffins. He’s been good for nine points (4-5-9) in the past 10 games. Soderblom is leading Grand Rapids with 84 shots on goal.

Could Detroit Be Showcasing Soderblom?

With less than seven weeks until the NHL trade deadline, it’s also entirely possible that the Red Wings might be wanting to give other NHL teams a look at Soderblom in the show. 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.

Certainly, his 6-foot-8, 250-plus frame makes Soderblom 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 having to deal with bigger players.