Detroit Red Wings
Red Wings Prospect Heading For Europe
Current Detroit player eyeing Swedish return
The Grand Rapids Griffins have proven to be an effective development stepping stone for moving defense prospects on to the Detroit Red Wings. Moritz Seider, Simon Edvinsson and Albert Johansson saw duty with Detroit’s AHL farm club prior to making it to the show.
The Detroit braintrust is maintaining belief that Axel Sandin Pellikka, William Willander and Shai Buium may all eventually be traveling along this pipeline as well. Eemil Viro, on the other hand, appears to he heading in an entirely different direction.
Eemil Viro a nd Nikolai Knyzhov didn't have quite the season they were hoping to have with the Grand Rapids Griffins. #GoGRG #LGRW @TheAHL pic.twitter.com/LY03BLbQVr
— Graced By Rain (@GracedByRainPod) April 27, 2025
After three seasons with the Griffins, hockeynews.se is reporting that the Finnish rearguard will be signing with the Malmo Redhawks of the Swedish Hockey League for the 2025-26 season.
Viro, 23, played 62 games for the Griffins last season, accounting for five points. In total, he spent 142 games with Grand Rapids and five ECHL games for the Toledo Walleye. The Red Wings made Viro the 70th overall selection in the 2020 NHL entry draft.
It’s going to be a busy summer for Viro. He’s also scheduled to be serving his mandatory service in the Finnish military.
Red Wings Defenseman Plots Eventual Homecoming
Many European NHLers think about finishing their pro careers playing in their homeland and Erik Gustafsson is no different. The Red Wings defenseman just finished helping Sweden win a bronze medal at the IIHF World Championship.
“Yes, it’s been fun,” Gustafsson told Hockey Sverige. “Fun to play in Stockholm and everything. It’s been fun playing for the fans.
“It’s fun to be home, meet family and friends and play in front of them. There have been a lot of people in the stands.”
It's Erik Gustafsson's first goal as a Red Wing!#LGRW pic.twitter.com/WGINa31HpM
— FanDuel Sports Network Detroit (@FanDuelSN_DET) January 3, 2025
While back home, he was also discussing the possibility of an eventual homecoming. Gustafsson will be entering the final season of a two-year pact with the Red Wings in 2025-26.
“We’ll see how long I stay over there (in the NHL),” Gustafsson said. “I’ll keep playing as long as I get a job and my body holds up.
“If there’s one team I’ll play for (in Sweden), it’s Djurgarden.”
Gustafsson previously spent three seasons with Djurgarden, most recently in 2012-13.
