The Detroit Red Wings released their 2022 NHL prospect tournament roster and schedule on Wednesday morning.
The annual event will be held in Traverse City, Michigan, from September 15th through September 19th. The Columbus Blue Jackets, Toronto Maple Leafs, Dallas Stars, and St. Louis Blues are other NHL teams competing.
The roster is highlighted by 2021 first-round picks Simon Edvinsson and Sebastian Cossa, selected sixth and fifteenth overall, respectively. Both players appeared in the 2022 IIHF World Junior Championship; Edvinsson wearing an ‘A’ for Sweden, averaged over 22 minutes a game and scored one goal, and added an assist in six games, helping Sweden win the bronze medal. Cossa appeared in just one game, recording a win over Latvia and posting a .917 save percentage.
Other notable drafted players include Elmer Soderblom, Cross Hanas, and Albert Johansson.
Soderblom, 21, led Frolunda of the SHL in goals with 21 in his first full season. The former sixth-round pick in 2019 sits at 6’8 and 250 pounds. Add that with his slick hands and strong shot; he is a force in the offensive zone.
Cross Hanas was a member of Detroit’s 2021 Traverse City Prospect Tournament roster and is looking to earn significant minutes in his first year of professional hockey. Last season playing for the Portland Winterhawks, Hanas exploded offensively, finishing ninth in the WHL in scoring, posting 26 goals and 86 points in 63 games.
Johansson, one of three second-round picks from the 2019 NHL Entry Draft, is gearing up for his first season in North America after spending the past four seasons in Sweden. His elite skating ability and transitional play make him an intriguing prospect who could push for an NHL spot sooner rather than later. Johansson was an integral part of Farjestad BK’s SHL championship run, scoring five goals and 25 points in the regular season and adding two more goals and six assists in 19 playoff games.
The Red Wings also invited World Juniors fan favorite Ivan Ivan. The Czech-born center spent last season playing in the QMJHL for the Cape Breton Eagles, scoring 31 goals and 65 points in 65 games.
The Red Wings open the tournament Friday, September 16th, at 3 p.m. versus the Columbus Blue Jackets and wrap up Monday, September 19th, at 11 a.m. versus the Toronto Maple Leafs. The Red Wings will stream all their games in the tournament on YouTube and Facebook.
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