Detroit Red Wings
Former Red Wings D Witkowski Leaves Impression on Sweden
Lilja gets coaching position
Former Detroit Red Wings defenseman Luke Witkowski wasn’t a big hit in his SHL debut last season. At season’s end, he was given his release by Skelleftea.
However, it would be a misnomer to suggest that Witkowski wasn’t making an impression on the Swedish hockey public.
Full speed sheesh
— Red Wings Prospects (@LGRWProspects) January 4, 2025
Recently, the SHL was awarding Witkowski for delivering the most punishing hit of the season. His massive check on Alexander Ljungkrantz of Farjestad garnered 58% of the fan vote. Witkowski caught the Farjestad forward with his head down, flattening him with a devastating shoulder check.
Witkowski was on the same Swedish team as Red Wings first-round picks Axel Sandin Pellikka and Michael Brandsegg-Nygard. Sandin Pellikka was a nominee for SHL goal of the year. His tally was only garnering 8% of the vote, finishing fifth. A goal by another Red Wings prospect, Leksand defenseman Anton Johansson, wound up eighth on the ballot with 5% of the vote.
New Job For Red Wings Cup Winner
Andreas Lilja was a Stanley Cup winner with the Red Wings in 2007-08. This past spring, he was an assistant coach for Denmark’s national team at the IIHF World Championship. The Danes upset Canada in the quarter-finals and would finish fourth.
That impressive performance has resulted in Lilja moving into a new job. He’ll be an assistant in the Swiss National League next season with perennial contenders ZSC Lions.
Die ZSC Lions verpflichten Andreas Lilja als neuen Assistenztrainer und Nachfolger von Rob Cookson. Der 49-jährige Schwede hat einen Zweijahresvertrag bis und mit Saison 2026/27 unterschrieben 👇https://t.co/9BOT54STZx pic.twitter.com/Izj0pvK4pG
— ZSC Lions (@zsclions) June 13, 2025
“Andreas will be responsible for our defense and box play,” ZSC sports director Sven Leuenberger said on the club’s website. “It is especially important to me that our young players take a step forward with him. But of course the established defensemen should also be able to benefit from his work.”
Ice Chips
Former Grand Rapids Griffins defenseman Oliwer Kaski has found a new team. He’ll be joining Kolner Haie of Germany’s DEL . . . Two other ex-Griffins, forwards Trenton Bliss and Tyler Spezia, are leaving the ECHL Toledo Walleye to sign with European clubs. Spezia is joining Germany’s Nurnberg Ice Tigers. Spezia is signing with Norway’s Stavanger Oilers . . . Philip Samuelsson, son of former Red Wings defenseman Ulf Samuelsson, is joining Italy’s Bolzano HC.
