Red Wings Draft Pick a Menace in Swedish Playoffs

The Detroit Red Wings were opting to walk away from 2019 draft pick Albin Grewe. In all honesty, up until recently, it’s never looked to be a bad decision.

Suddenly, though, in this year’s Allsvenskan playoffs, Grewe, 24 is turning into a Swedish version of Brad Marchand – which is exactly what scouts thought they saw in him at the time he was drafted.

“He’s very competitive,” Red Wings GM Steve Yzerman said at the 2019 NHL entry draft. “He’s aggressive, he gets in there. He gets pushed, he pushes back.

“We liked his combination of competitiveness and skill and he’s a strong skater. I like the player, he competes hard, he’s got some skill and he can skate.”

Ex-Red Wings prospect Albin Grewe scores in Game 7 OT to send Djurgården to the allsvenskan final. pic.twitter.com/Ns0b68Ul0H

— Red Wings Prospects (@LGRWProspects) April 12, 2025

Unfortunately, the evidence of Grewe developing into that player never materialiazed. In 2021-22, he was dropped by Finnish club Ilves Tampere after just four games. He landed in the Allsvenskan, Sweden’s second division, first with Mora and currently with Djurgardens.

Truth be told, Grewe’s game still wasn’t growing, even against this lower level of competition. He’s never scored more than four goals in a single season.

Red Wings Pick Finding His Game

Perhaps Grewe is simply a late bloomer. As Djurgardens battles AIK in the Allsvenskan final for promotion to the SHL, he’s playing a starring role. And Grewe is developing into the type of player the Red Wings sure could use on the roster.

He’s scored five goals in 15 games, including a Game 7 overtime winner to get Djurgardens into the final. His ice time has increased from 11 minutes per game to between 17-18 minutes.

Grewe is also channeling his inner Marchand. No, he hasn’t licked anyone, but an AIK player did bite Grewe’s finger during an altercatation.

@AlbinGrewe – en av oss!
💛❤️💙 pic.twitter.com/xJMQiKNI0E

— Tessan (@HultmanTh) April 22, 2025

Tuesday, Grewe scored one of the goals as Djurgardens blanked AIK 5-0. One more win and they clinch promotion.

After his goal, Grewe kissed the logo on his jersey. Then he taunted the AIK fans.

“In retrospect, it was probably a bit unnecessary, but I wanted to show my love for Djurgardens,” Grewe explained to Swedish website Aftonbladet. “It was nothing against the AIK supporters. But I could have skipped it.”

AIK fans responded by showering the ice with projectiles. They also sang derogatory songs about Grewe’s mother.

“I heard it, but I don’t care,” Grewe said. “Maybe I deserved it.”

Afterwards, everyone was talking about Grewe.

“He can keep doing his crap if he wants,” AIK player Oscar Nord said. “He’s probably trying to get into our heads.”

Sounds like he already has. If only Grewe had displayed this level of all-around game at a younger age, maybe he could’ve been helping the Red Wings.