Detroit Red Wings prospect Elmer Söderblom is calling Steve Yzerman

After another “almost win” by the Detroit Red Wings, their fifth loss in a row isn’t breathing hope into this season. 

Admittedly, I was reluctant to continue watching the Grand Rapids Griffins. They’re not the Detroit Red Wings, but regularly watching hockey in any capacity seems more like a chore than a pleasure lately. I’m jaded. Yet, the Grand Rapids Griffins know how to pull a fan out of their depression.

There’s no need for yelling, caps lock, or name-calling. Nobody is discrediting anyone as a fan because they’re disappointed in their Detroit Red Wings, just good old-fashioned hockey that provides an escape from the normal, mundane life I’m used to. It’s refreshing. Head coach Dan Watson is a big part of that excitement. He’s a coach who doesn’t get down on his players, treats them with respect in the public eye, and provides stability. Not getting too high or too long, the Grand Rapids Griffins team feeds off this confident, methodical approach. It’s almost like it satiates a hunger.

Going into the third, the Grand Rapids Griffins were down by one. Honestly, the American Hockey League (AHL) score doesn’t mean much. No lead or deficit seems too large to overcome. With the Grand Rapids Griffins, this statement rings especially true. They seem to be in the mix of every game, and it’s a joy to see. Players earn their minutes and are held accountable regardless of tenure or contracts with the team. Development takes precedence, but this fact doesn’t mean winning isn’t important. As with any professional athlete, their goal is to win each night. Although it’s not ever a guaranteed win, there’s always a promise that players will do their best for their team.

With the aim of development, there’s never a duplicate path for a player. They take their own steps at their own pace with their own results. Watson is as impressive as any coach, with the ability to read and understand the needs of each player. He knows exactly how to push or pull back on a player. How to challenge them to bring out their best qualities. Also, how to get them to buy into the systems he’s selling. Long after fans might give up on a player’s National Hockey League (NHL) dreams, Watson much like REO Speedwagon keeps pushing on.

Elmer Söderblom is ready for his call-up to the Detroit Red Wings, Steve Yzerman should answer

"We’ve been in this position for many years. I don’t think there’s anyone coming in to save the day. I think we have to find it from within."

Dylan Larkin

Dylan Larkin sounds as jaded as I feel when he says these words in a media availability on December 5, 2024. 

It’s disheartening to hear my captain talk like that as he deserves to feel happy and to enjoy playing the game of hockey. Remembering back to the seemingly lowest point of his career, when Tyler Bertuzzi was traded and Larkin displayed his emotions (he always wears his heart on his sleeve, which is nice in a lot of ways), I hoped things would only go up for him.

Fast forward to now, and things haven’t gone to plan. While there were moments of bliss, those moments faded all too quickly like a lightning bug on a warm summer’s night. 

He and his team are begging general manager Steve Yzerman for help. From their on-ice play to the depths of despair written over everyone’s face, they need someone or something to help them regain their spark of life. Lucas Raymond, Simon Edvinsson, Moritz Seider, and Dylan Larkin are doing everything that they can to get this team off the ground, but it’s heavier than it’s been in the last three seasons. 

I’d argue part of this weight stems from the forward group. We have skilled guys and two-way guys, but neither group is really fulfilling their roles to the best of their abilities. They’re trying, but what they are doing isn’t effective. I’m not sure if it’s a systems thing, coaching thing, personnel thing, a combination of those, or something else, but something has to give. 

If a coaching change or trade isn’t in the cards for the Detroit Red Wings, which seems like foreign concepts to the stubborn Yzerplan, then a relatively easy option is to try a different forward.

Elmer Söderblom might be a forgotten name by some fans; others might have given up on him already (because apparently, once a player tries the NHL, gets a foot injury, and needs time to round out his game, disqualifies him from doing anything of value ever again), but if you know, you know with Lord Elmer. 

The 6’8” behemoth makes Edvinsson and Sebastian Cossa look small. 

At times, he can fall—similar to Michael Rasmussen, it might just be a center of gravity thing, where they’re so tall it’s difficult to not topple over. However, he’s the strongest player I have ever watched. 

Grown men attempt to take him down and normally Söderblom doesn’t care, he just ignores them. When he’s fed up, though (and he’s been fed up a lot lately it seems), all it takes is one hand for most opponents and they go flying. Or crumpling to the ground. 

I’m still confident that Söderblom has no clue how strong he is or exactly how to use his strength, but I’m not sure there are many players at any level in the world who can stop Söderblom when he gets going. He’s ridiculous.

Last night, in overtime, I saw Söderblom attempt to score. Frustration danced across his face. I knew, though, he was determined to score. As his team regrouped and changed, Söderblom did not. Going through neutral ice, and after two of his Grand Rapids Griffins teammates (special shoutout to Dominik Shine who gave the extra push to free up the puck), Söderblom stole a page from Raymond’s book. He had a defender in front of him who he used as a screen and picked his shot. 

When Söderblom gets locked in like that, nothing that anyone does can or will stop him. To top off his impressive strength, Söderblom still has his wicked shot. He doesn’t pull it out of his bag of tricks often enough, but when he does it’s lethal.

Söderblom is having himself a year with the Grand Rapids Griffins so far. He’s a huge spark (not just from his size, either) for his team. 

It would be in the best interest of the team and Yzerman to bring up Söderblom like yesterday.

I hear the naysayers now. We already have Rasmussen, Söderblom is like a less effective version of Rasmussen. To that I say, please watch more Rasmussen as the two are big. That’s kind of where the similarities end for me. Where Rasmussen is a north/south style player with some grit, Söderblom is much more of a skilled guy who can get physical as needed, but he would rather avoid conflict. 

Both can be great net-front players, but Söderblom is more likely to make a skilled play or fancy shot to get the puck in the net than he is at attempting to tip a puck. It’s just the way Söderblom is and he’s good at what he does. 

Söderblom would bring a much different look to the lineup, whether Rasmussen stays in the lineup at that point I’m not sure. Lines could be made up like this, though:

DeBrincat - Larkin - Raymond

Tarasenko - Compher - Kane

Sõderblom - Kasper - Berggren

Copp - Veleno - Fischer

Motte

Adding Söderblom to the second power-play unit could help as well. 

Now that Söderblom is more comfortable playing a physical brand of hockey (even if it doesn’t come naturally, he’s willing and able to use his size advantage on a regular basis), I think he’s ready and should be recalled for a spot on the Detroit Red Wings. Söderblom has been a penalty killer for the Grand Rapids Griffins, too. Having him and Edvinsson on the ice at the same time…imagine the amount of real estate those two alone take up. Then, to know they could play a responsible, two-way, effective game makes me all the more convinced that a Söderblom call-up is necessary.

If they need to waive someone to make room for Söderblom, I think anyone of the rotating three would do (Joseph Veleno, Christian Fischer, or Tyler Motte). If someone claims one on waivers, it’s not a big deal, and if they pass through waivers, then that works out okay for the Detroit Red Wings, too.

They could also waive the guy who wouldn’t waive his no-trade clause for the Jacob Trouba trade. Based on my poor math skills, it seems like the Detroit Red Wings would have needed $5.5 million in cap space freed up to make the Trouba trade work. Only three guys on the Detroit Red Wings make over $5.5 million and have a no-trade clause: Dylan Larkin, Alex DeBrincat, and Andrew Copp. J.T. Compher is also making $5.1 million, so it was close but not quite the dollar amount that would make the trade work. As much as I would love to cite a defenseman here, none are making over $5 million with a no-trade clause. 

Obviously, Larkin isn’t the guy. It just leaves DeBrincat or Copp. Not sure who would refuse to go to the New York Rangers (it would feel very odd if either didn’t want to go), but who knows what happened. Realistically, I don’t think the Detroit Red Wings would trade the player with the second-most points on the team, though.

Söderblom has gone on a journey to regain his confidence and become effective physically. In doing so, I think Söderblom has found the ways that he will be successful in the NHL for a long time to come. I think calling him up sooner rather than later is in the best interest of the Detroit Red Wings. 

While Söderblom can't be the only hero for the Detroit Red Wings, he's surely part of a solution.