Soderblom Nets Winner For Red Wings

With each passing day, the Detroit Red Wings are gathering more evidence that their kids are alright.

On a night when 31-year-old Dominik Shine was making his NHL debut for Detroit, the fingerprints of the future of the franchise were all over Monday’s 5-2 win over the Los Angeles Kings. Elmer Soderblom was netting the game winner. It was his first NHL goal in more than two years.

Marco Kasper scored twice. That gives him seven goals in the past 10 games. And Lucas Raymond – it’s easy to forget he’s only 22 – was pacing that attack. He wound up scoring once and dishing out three helpers. The four-point night was equaling his career-high performance.

“It says that there’s been some good drafting,” Red Wings coach Todd McLellan said of the team’s young core coming to the fore. “There’s been good development, there’s been patience, and then there’s been the reward.”

First Goal In Two Years For Red Wings Soderblom

Seeing his first NHL action since the 2022-23 season, the 6-foot-8, 253-pound Soderblom was registering his first goal in the show since Dec. 31, 2022.

Big Elm picks up the rebound! pic.twitter.com/kuoAMNasFM

— Detroit Red Wings (@DetroitRedWings) January 28, 2025

“Feels like I’ve grown as a player,” Soderblom said, assessing the difference in his second NHL tour. “Feels like I’m playing better. I’ve grown into my game and starting to use my size and my skills and shot to my advantage.

“So it feels like I’m going into it more and more and just know a little bit more what it takes and yeah, so far it feels good.”

Kasper Keeps On Counting

First, Kasper was netting the insurance goal in the third period to make it 4-2. Then he would salt the game away with an empty-net tally. A natural center skating on the wing of the top line with Raymond and Dylan Larkin, Kasper shows 7-4-11 totals through the past 10 games.

IT'S A BIRD?
IT'S A PLANE?

IT'S MARCO KASPER! pic.twitter.com/OWidSaIgGX

— Detroit Red Wings (@DetroitRedWings) January 28, 2025

“Well, he’s playing to his own expectations, I would probably say, McLellan noted. “I think that’s what he expects of himself, and then we have those expectations of him, too. He’s out of position right now. He’s a center and he’s probably going to play center.

“When he does go back into his home position, if you want to call it that, that’ll be a big test. But we’ll worry about that down the road when it’s time.”

Raymond Driving Red Wings Bus

Larkin may be the captain, but more and more, this is becoming Raymond’s team. The Red Wings go as he goes. And right now, he’s really going.

Since McLellan took over as coach 16 games ago, Raymond has 23 points on seven goals and 16 assists. That’s second in the NHL in scoring during that span.

“Boy, you don’t realize how impactful he is on a game,” McLellan said. “Not always in wins, even in losses. The impact he has on a game night after night after night.

“So consistent, competitive, a lot of fire in him and skill to go with it.”