Red Wings assistant GM Jim Nill announced Monday that the team has signed Swedish forward Fabian Brunnstrom to a pro-tryout contract.
Originally Detroit, along with three other teams ,pursued Brunnstrom back in 2008. The much hyped Brunnstrom however opted to sign with the Dallas Stars.
“Things just haven’t gone the way he wanted to. He actually approached us and said he’d like another opportunity,” Nill said. “He knows now what it takes to be a pro after it probably caught him a little off guard being a younger guy from Sweden.
“I think he just said, ‘You know what, if I’m going to have a chance to be a pro maybe I can do it in Detroit.’ We said, ‘You’re welcome to come and try out,’ and he accepted.”
Brunnstrom might be most known for however as becoming only the third player in history to score a hat trick in his NHL debut. He accomplished this on October 15, 2008 against Nashville and later went on to tally 7 goals, 12 assists and a minus-8 rating in 55 games as a rookie in 2008-09. Brunnstrom never really adjusted to the NHL and struggled in the following seasons notching only 2 goals and nine assists in 44 games.
Brunnstrom could make things interesting for the Wings if he comes in and performs well during his tryout. This is considering the Wings already have a 23 man roster that’s set meaning that if they were to add Brunnstrom someone currently on the roster would have to go. Jiri Hudler would probably be the odd man out in this situation however it seems unlikely that an unproven Brunnstrom would take his spot.
It’s also unclear if Brunnstrom could wind up in the AHL with the Griffins…
“I really haven’t talked to him about that,” Nill said. “His focus is to come here and make the Red Wings and we’ll go from there.”
Source: Grand Rapids Press