From 2014 on, the organization has drafted at least one goaltender in every draft and selected two netminders in 2018, Swedes Jesper Eliasson and Victor Brattstrom.
It's apparent the Wings are intent on replenishing their coffers at the most important position on the ice and Brattstrom could be a part of Detroit's goaltending cadre.
Considered to be a late bloomer, Brattstrom was 21 when he taken in the sixth round, 160th overall, in 2018 by the Red Wings.
Detroit was intrigued with his size - 6-foot-6, 198 pounds - his skill set and the numbers he put up with Timra IK in the Allsvenskan, Sweden's second highest league.
In 15 games for Timra IK, he was 10-5-0, with a goals-against average of 1.93, a save percentage of .918 and three shutouts.
With the Wings needing goaltending depth, Brattstrom was a low risk with a possible high reward as a sixth-round pick, especially at a position known for developing at a later age than most skaters.
Last season Brattstrom moved up to Timra's SHL club and had a slow beginning to his rookie campaign in Sweden's top league.
But he rebounded nicely as the season wore on and during Detroit's development camp in June, Brattstrom showed poise, a high hockey IQ and an intense drive, which has placed him squarely in the Red Wings goaltending mix.
23 -Total number of games Brattstrom appeared in as a rookie for Timra IK. He shared the net with veteran Niklas Svedberg, who appeared in 35 games for the Timra Red Eagles. From 2013-14 through 2014-15, Svedberg played in 19 games for the Boston Bruins.
5 -On a bad Red Eagles team, Brattstrom won five games. Svedberg was tops in wins with 10.
14 - Brattstrom lost 14 games during his rookie SHL season. Svedberg had 23 losses for Timra.
2.81 - With a very marginal team in front of him, his goals-against average was a somewhat respectable 2.81. His counterpart in net, Svedberg, had a goals-against average of 3.43.
.897 -His save percentage, which led the Red Eagles. Svedberg's save percentage was .888.
0 - He failed to register a shutout as a rookie.
Quotable:"What a great kid, great competitor. That's one thing that I notice every time in the goalie sessions, practice, he competes to the very last inch to command rebounds, place rebounds. He wants it so bad and I think that's a thing we talked to him about is maybe less is more at times. Because he has the athleticism, he has the ability to have the reads within his game, I think structurally because again, he's a big guy, he can narrow out his stance, he can control his hands a little bit better, as far as what we call in goaltending terms, projection, meeting pucks a little bit better, and that's a little bit to do with hand-eye coordination and also body control. He got better this year in Timra, with a good goalie coach over in Sweden. Timra was deferred to the Allsvenskan league because they were a marginal team in the SHL, but it'll be a really good situation for Victor because he'll probably play 45-50 games, which he didn't have that luxury last year because he was playing with Niklas Svedberg. The thing is, by the end of the year, he was outplaying Svedberg. One, due to his work ethic, and also the quality of starts he had." - Brian Mahoney-Wilson, Red Wings goaltending development coach
