RFA winger Elmer Soderblom is returning to the Red Wings on a two-year contract, according to a team announcement. The deal is worth $2.25MM for a cap hit of $1.125MM.
Soderblom, who turns 24 on Saturday, appeared in 26 games for the Wings last season after not seeing any NHL action in 2023-24. He scored four goals and 11 points while averaging 13:22 per contest, finishing at a 10.5% clip and recording 43 hits.
The hulking 6’8″ winger, drafted back in 2019 in the sixth round, has been a middle-six fixture in the AHL for the Grand Rapids Griffins for the past three seasons, including a 5-12–17 scoring line in 38 games there this season. The Wings evidently liked what they saw from Soderblom down the stretch in the NHL last year enough to not only give him a one-way contract but a seven-figure commitment annually.
Soderblom will be expected to crack the opening night roster for the second time in his career after making the team unexpectedly in 2022-23. He should factor into a consistent bottom-six role for Detroit next year and is almost a certainty to set a new career high in games played. The Wings have a full 23-player roster but still boast over $14MM in cap space, per PuckPedia.
He’s a good glue guy.
‘Round these parts we call him Fudd. :D
Starting to wonder if Josh has a bonus in his Pro Hockey Rumors contract for each use of the word ‘hulking’ in a post.
Very disappointing start to free agency by the Wings & Yzerman. Wings are going to need players like Edvinsson, Kasper, Johanson & Soderblom take it to the next level next year and hope one or two of ASP, Danielson, Mazur and MBN prove NHL worthy as this will be the only way they make the playoffs. If free agents won’t come to Detroit then we need to develop our own stars. Will be interesting