Steve Yzerman discusses development of top Red Wings prospects

Detroit Red Wings executive vice president and general manager Steve Yzerman knows there are myriad ways to improve an NHL roster. In addition to scouting and building through the NHL Entry Draft, being opportunistic in free agency and through the trade market are options for filling roster spots.

Speaking to the media in his annual end-of-season availability session on Monday afternoon, Yzerman discussed the development of several Red Wings prospects, including winger Jonatan Berggren and defenseman Simon Edvinsson, both Swedish natives.
Berggren, Detroit's 33rd overall pick in the 2018 Draft, set the Grand Rapids Griffins' all-time rookie scoring record with 64 points in 70 games this season. The 21-year-old also became the first rookie to lead the Griffins in assists (43), capping off his debut campaign as the AHL Rookie of the Month in April.

"We're very pleased with the season that Jonatan had," Yzerman said. "As you know, we left him there the entire season. We decided, at the end, not to recall him. It's an adjustment coming to play in the American Hockey League versus the Swedish Elite League that he played in."
Berggren's status for the 2022-23 campaign will be decided during training camp and in the preseason.
"I sit here today and say I'm not going to pencil Jonatan Berggren into the lineup but I'm also not going to say he's destined to play in GR," Yzerman said. "Let's see how training camp goes, let's see how the preseason goes and we'll make a determination at that point."

As for Edvinsson, the 19-year-old blueliner had two goals and 17 assists in 44 games this season for Frölunda in the Swedish Hockey League, finishing as an SHL Rookie of the Year finalist.
On April 24,
Edvinsson signed a three-year entry-level contract with the Red Wings
, beginning with the 2022-23 campaign.
According to Yzerman, Detroit's sixth overall pick in the 2021 NHL Entry Draft will be in consideration for a roster spot next season.
"He's strong, he can skate really well," Yzerman said. "He does have a chance, yeah. Honestly, a real good chance to play in the NHL next year."
Yzerman is also hopeful that prospects like defensemen Albert Johansson and Eemil Viro and winger Elmer Söderblom take the next step in their respective journeys to the North American-sized ice sheet.
"We would like to bring them over to play in North America next year," Yzerman said. "Whether they make the Detroit Red Wings or play in the American Hockey League remains to be seen. But we're very excited about having all three of them in our system."
When discussing Söderblom, Yzerman described his development as "fun to watch."
"Based on what he's done over the last couple of years, his progress, we're pretty excited about it," Yzerman said. "It's a pleasant surprise, but as we've said, we need some surprises within our drafts."

On May 10, the Red Wings will learn the position of their first-round draft pick when the 2022 NHL Draft Lottery takes place. With 10 picks in this year's entry draft, Yzerman and his staff are focused on adding increased depth to the organization.
"We can't expect to pick in the top 10 every year," Yzerman said. "It would take a long time to build that way. We need some of these players drafted from the second to seventh rounds to make it."
Stay tuned to DetroitRedWings.com this week for additional stories recapping Yzerman's end-of-season media availability session.