Detroit Red Wings
Red Wings Pick Accuses Americans of Dirty Play
Calls out US team for cheap shots
Detroit Red Wings draftee Eddie Genborg scored two goals as Sweden dumped the USA 6-3 to take top spot in their group at the IIHF World Junior Championship.
Then Genborg added insult. He was accusing the US players of playing dirty once the outcome of the game was no longer in doubt.
“Yes, they are quite dirty actually,” Genborg told Swedish website Aftonbladet. “But I like to play matches where it is physical, and the level of competition is high. Those are my matches.”
Particularly perturbing to Genborg was a blindside hit from US player AJ Spellacy was delivering to his Swedish teammate Lucas Pettersson. Officials were assessing a minor penalty to Spellacy for an illegal check to the head or neck. He felt the referees should’ve been calling a major penalty.
“It should have been a five,” Genborg said. “I don’t know what they do when they’re down and why they are acting like that. It’s just unnecessary. But that’s who they are.”
GENBORG'S SHOT WAS SO HARD HALF THE PLAYERS DID NOT KNOW IT WENT IN 🤣
2-0 SWEDEN.#WorldJuniors pic.twitter.com/6Qxb8fVkTc
— TSN (@TSN_Sports) January 1, 2026
Genborg punished his American opponents for their miscreant deeds in the best manner. He was scoring both of his goals on Swedish power plays. One of his two goals came after USA defenseman Logan Hensler went to the sin bin for interfering with Genborg.
They were his first goals of the tournament.
Red Wings Prospect A Physical Presence
The player Detroit chose 40th overall in the 2025 NHL entry draft was a physical presence throughout the game. Genborg drew the ire of the American players when he bodychecked USA defenseman Luke Osburn hard into the boards. Making the Americans even angrier was the fact that officials ultimately assessed a penalty to Osburn on the play. He was sent off delay of game. Osburn was guilty of firing the puck over the boards a split-second before being crunched by Genborg.
3P 15.16: 🇸🇪 5-3 🇺🇸
Luke Osburn sends the puck over the glass but is then crunched by Eddie Genborg with a hard hit into the boards. Osburn skates to the dressing room, and someone else will serve the penalty as tensions flare in Saint Paul.#hockey #worldjuniors #wjc pic.twitter.com/4cVdHTyrLC
— Simo Frigolé (@kettusport) January 1, 2026
“I think it’s a nice hit,” Genborg said. “He should protect himself better, I think.
“I’m just trying to run him over, really.”
Love his attitude. Hope he is soon with the Wings. He seems to have some grit which I believe we badly need. Redwing Bill will love him.
Agreed Obie. Have seen some highlights and like his hard nosed approach to the game. Polar Bear Bob might even be a bit enamored by Genborg’s style.
Pipeline looking decent.
I do now. I’ll have to follow him a little more closely.
Just what the Wings need. It’d be great if he can become a young Darren McCarty type for the Wings. A guy with the sand paper, grit, and fire to do what it takes to change momentum in a game, and yet still have enough skill to play up and down the line-up. He’s looking like another great find by the Wings Swedish scouts.
Just imagine this team with a couple of Darren McCarty type players on it, the possibilities.