Morning Notes: Wallinder, Nurse, Chinakhov

Over the long history of the Detroit Red Wings, there have been some incredible Swedish players. The days of Nicklas Lidstrom, Henrik Zetterberg, and Tomas Holmstrom may be over, but there is a new wave of Swedish talent coming to claim the ice in Detroit. Lucas Raymond has been outstanding in his rookie season, scoring 56 points in 79 games, and top prospect Simon Edvinsson appears to be a first-pairing defenseman in the making.

It was another prospect though, who received the honor of being the best junior-aged player in the SHL this season. William Wallinder, selected 32nd overall in 2020, took home the award, the second straight time it has been given to a Red Wings defenseman. Moritz Seider–a German playing in the SHL–took it home a year ago, before bursting onto the scene as the likely Calder Trophy winner this season. Wallinder, 19, is another behemoth standing 6’4″, but is actually one of the best skaters in the SHL and recorded 19 points in 47 games for Rogle this season. Get ready, the Swedes are coming.

• Edmonton Oilers head coach Jay Woodcroft confirmed today that Darnell Nurse did not make the trip to Columbus and is listed as day-to-day with a lower-body injury. The team is still hoping their top defenseman will be ready for the playoffs, but he won’t play in today’s afternoon affair or Tuesday’s match against the Pittsburgh Penguins. The Oilers are firmly in a playoff position, two points ahead of their likely first-round opponent the Los Angeles Kings, but will certainly want Nurse to shake off any rust before the postseason begins. The 27-year-old has 35 points in 71 games this season while averaging over 25 minutes a night.
• It’s been more than three weeks since rookie Yegor Chinakhov was in the lineup for the Columbus Blue Jackets, but he’ll make his return today against the Oilers. Team reporter Jeff Svoboda tweets that Chinakhov will go into the lineup for Brendan Gaunce, giving the 21-year-old a chance to add to his totals down the stretch. Selected 21st overall in 2020, the young forward has 14 points in 58 games this year.