Three years ago when he was one of the most sought after undrafted free agents, Fabian Brunnstrom said he was very close to joining the Wings, it was a “gut feeling” that had him choose Dallas.
Three years later, Brunnstrom has had his difficulties trying to make that NHL transition after being released by the Dallas Stars, then traded to the Toronto Maple Leafs. He hasn’t played a game in the NHL since April 2010.
Brunnstrom isn’t giving up however. He’s determined to make it work for himself in the NHL rather than go back to Sweden and he’s determined to make it work with the Wings, even if that means having to prove himself in the minors.
“Sometimes it is hard, but you can’t just lay down and die, you have to keep on working,” he said. “It’s a long journey. You can’t stop just because it’s tough.”
“This is where I want to play, and I don’t want to give up that dream,” he said. “I can’t look at how many forwards they have. All I can do is just go out there and try to do my best and have fun and see how it goes. If Red Wings want to keep me in their organization, I’m happy wherever they put me. If they want to put me in the A team here with the Wings, or with Grand Rapids, wherever, it doesn’t matter. Just to be with the organization is a big thing for me.”
The Wings are a very deep team at the forward position so if he’s going to make the team out of training camp he’s really going to have to impress. Unfortunately for him that’s not going to happen HOWEVER a two-way contract with the Wings and a start in Grand Rapids certainly can be in the fold.
Source: Detroit Free Press
