Skip navigation
Favorites
Sign up to follow your favorites on all your devices.
Sign up

Report: Failed prospect Fabian Brunnstrom to get try out with Red Wings

Carlo Colaiacovo, Fabian Brunnstrom

St. Louis Blues defender Carlo Colaiacovo, left, pins the leg of Dallas Stars left wing Fabian Brunnstrom, right, after Colaiacovo was thrown against the boards in the first period of an NHL hockey game, Saturday, April 4, 2009, in Dallas. (AP Photo/Tim Sharp)

AP

When Fabian Brunnstrom came to the NHL three years ago from Sweden, he was hotly pursued by the Red Wings, Canadiens, and Stars. Ultimately the Stars signed the highly-touted forward and it was seen as a coup beating out the Sweden-friendly Red Wings. The 6'1" 205 pound forward had a lot of promise and going to a team like Dallas was seen to be a big move for the organization.

After his first season in Dallas that saw him score 17 goals in 55 games, there was promise. Three years later, Brunnstrom was traded in a minor league deal to Toronto and spent the entirety of last season in the AHL with the Texas Stars and Toronto Marlies. After being unable to make his mark on the NHL, it was expected that Brunnstrom’s try at becoming the latest Swedish star sensation was over. As it turns out, he’ll get one more chance to prove his worth in training camp next month with the same Detroit Red Wings that attempted to land him back in 2008.

Swedish news site Aftonbladet reports that Brunnstrom will get a training camp invitation from the Red Wings to see if he can unleash his untapped potential with a host of other Swedish countrymen to help him blend in. Having Nicklas Lidstrom, Johan Franzen, Henrik Zetterberg, Jonathan Ericsson, and Tomas Holmstrom there to show him the way things are done in Detroit may help him out.

Brunnstrom could also be out of luck with such a loaded Red Wings organization that also has Swedish phenom Gustav Nyqvist gunning to find a spot in the rotation as well. With Nyqvist being the new hotness and Brunnstrom being the old and busted part of the talent search, Brunnstrom’s chances to earn a contract with the organization will be tough. Since he’s just getting a tryout, that means he’ll have to perform better than other players who are already locked into deals with the team and the others they’ll also have in on a tryout basis. For Brunnstrom, taking the easy route won’t be an option this time if he wants to stay in the NHL.