Elmer Soderblom is one of the Detroit Red Wings most high-upside prospects - that's if you still define him as one. So far in his young NHL career, Soderblom's played in just 47 games, scoring nine goals and 19 points in the process, with a solid 13.2 shooting percentage.
He's a big, physical player with top-six potential, and one who can, if he stays healthy, be a force for at least the next two seasons in Hockeytown. And he seems ready to roll even here in mid-July, saying via NHL.com that, “They want me to keep improving on things like my skating and explosiveness. Keep using my size to my advantage, be physical around the net, get to pucks. I’ve been working on a lot of that on the ice, but also off the ice I’ve been getting stronger with my body and working on getting faster. It’s been good to have a goal to train towards. It feels like I’m getting closer and closer to a better me.”
That sounds like one confident hockey player, and one who should be a full-timer beyond the shadow of a doubt after he spent the last two seasons playing in 21 and 26 games, respectively. Health has been a concern, but if Soderblom can avoid injury, look for his production in all three zones to sail north if he put in the right amount of work here in the summer.
Elmer Soderblom has shown enough flashes with the Detroit Red Wings
Go back to last season when he scoed four goals and 11 points in those 26 contests and stretch that number out to 82 games. He would've been a 35-point, 13-goal player while averaging roughly 13:22 per contest.
So, if he lands in the top six, and there's a good chance he'll be 'the guy,' look for Soderblom to wind up in at least the 40-45-point range should he be around for all 82 contests. This is also assuming the Wings are done making offseason moves, since there's always a chance Steve Yzerman could make a trade and put someone more experienced and proven on the top two lines.
But let's assume everything stays as-is. Where does that put Soderblom? I can see him playing on the second line, even if it makes more sense to drop Alex DeBrincat to the second so he can play alongside Patrick Kane.
This could put Soderblom on the top line, with presumably Dylan Larkin and Lucas Raymond. Soderblom would be the weak link going into the season, but thanks to Larkin's and Raymond's experience and talent, he could also soar in 2025-26.
Either way, despite the flashes Soderblom's shown, it still doesn't take away the risk. He's yet to prove he can stay heallthy, and with a lack of depth as far as NHL-ready players go in the lineup, there's a chance Soderblom would miss time and the Wings would feel his absence.
On the plus side, they have a player who could be a draft-day steal. So, let's hope Soderblom, should he get a top-six role, thrives in it.
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