Red Wings Prospect Is A Wrecking Ball

You’ve got to be tough to play in the NHL.

One Detroit Red Wings prospect is climbing the ranks. Because of his combination of skill and toughness, he is an exciting player for fans to watch.

Toughness can take on many forms, but this prospect’s physicality makes for entertaining hockey.

Elmer Soderblom is progressing nicely in the AHL. He is adapting to North American ice and using his body more.

Last night, the Grand Rapids Griffins played the Cleveland Monsters. Things got heated between the two clubs, with Soderblom right at the center of the action.

At the time of the altercation above, the Griffins were ahead of the Monsters 2-0. Then, Owen Sillinger tries to hit Soderblom, who lands a perfect reverse hit.

Sillinger took exception to the reverse hit, and the two began exchanging crosschecks and shoves until two Monster players converged on Soderblom. This led to Soderblom and Joseph LaBate dropping the gloves and exchanging fisticuffs.

Soderblom makes short work of the fight by landing three or four punches to LaBate. Soderblom walked away with nine penalty minutes when the dust settled from the altercation. Five for fighting, two for roughing, and two for interference. The fighting and the roughing penalties make sense, but interference? For the reverse hit?

It would make more sense that the referee who called that penalty did not see Sillinger begin to throw a hit and only saw Soderblom flatten him.

With 10 points in 30 games, Soderblom is a little behind his 29 points collected in 61 games last season. However, he is shooting a lot more this year. He has 70 shots compared to 114 last year. He is averaging over two shots per game this season, while he averaged under two last year.

Red Wings fans will surely love this kid once he makes the show. He certainly has the toughness to be an impact player when the time comes.

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