Error processing SSI fileLidstrom, Holmstrom aware Swedish delegation is growing
Seven could make roster this season, and Holland says increased number is 'coincidence.'
Johan Franzen, left, is a center with some size (6-2, 207) and strength who has a chance to be a defensive force as well.Online extras
Red Wings schedule
Tampa Bay's Ryan Craig collides with Niklas Kronwall in front of the Wings' bench during the first period Monday. Kronwall was selected last season's best defenseman in the American Hockey League.
DETROIT -- The Red Wings might have to change the color of that winged wheel on their jerseys to blue.
That's the dominant color of the Swedish national team jersey. With as many as seven Swedes possibly making the roster this season, the Swedes certainly have become noticeable.
"There's never been this many Swedes before," said defenseman Nicklas Lidstrom, the veteran of the group. "It's a different feeling."
"It's nice," said forward Tomas Holmstrom, looking around at his teammates one day last week in Traverse City. "There is a lot. I'm not sure what's happening."
Nothing is happening, according to general manager Ken Holland. No secret plan, nothing to do with the rule changes, favoring offense and skating.
"Just a coincidence," Holland said of the growing number of Swedes on the Wings roster.
Along with Lidstrom, Holmstrom and Henrik Zetterberg, others certain to make the final roster are defensemen Niklas Kronwall and Andreas Lilja, and forward Mikael Samuelsson.
Forward Johan Franzen will have to play his way onto the roster over the next two weeks.
For Franzen, a third-round pick in 2004 who could provide size and checking, seeing so many countrymen has been comforting.
"It's good feeling," Franzen said. "It helps to have these guys around. Some of these guys have been in the league for a long time."
Wings fans know what to expect from Lidstrom, Holmstrom and Zetterberg. But Kronwall could be one of the most intriguing stories of the season.
Playing in Grand Rapids last season, Kronwall earned the Eddie Shore Trophy as the best defenseman in the American Hockey League.
"That year in Grand Rapids was the best thing that could have happened," Kronwall said. "It really helped my development."
"I look for him to be a valuable part of the organization," captain Steve Yzerman said. "He plays a strong game and competes hard. He's an open-ice hitter. He'll get a reputation in a year or two, after players on the other teams have had a chance to be around him a little bit."
As for Lilja, Samuelsson and Franzen, all three are likely to provide the hard-working style coach Mike Babcock wants to see.
Lilja, 30, is a 6-foot-4, 220-pound defenseman who will be asked to provide the physical play that was expected out of Derian Hatcher.
Hatcher, of course, was bought out because of salary-cap reasons and wound up in Philadelphia.
"He's (Lilja) a great big guy who knows how to play the game," Babcock said. "He moves pretty good. He's smart. He's a complement to Nick (Lidstrom) at this point."
Babcock paired Lilja with Lidstrom often during the training-camp scrimmages.
"I'm trying to be physical, but I'm not going to run out of position to hit somebody," Lilja said. "You can't do that in today's hockey. I'll just try to cover my net. If somebody comes in there, give them heck."
Samuelsson, 28, was signed to a one-year contract Saturday to provide veteran depth on the third and fourth lines.
Samuelsson had three goals and six assists in 37 games with the Florida Panthers in 2003-04. During the lockout season last winter, Samuelsson played a total of 41 games in Switzerland and Sweden, scoring nine goals with 17 assists for 26 points.
"He's played in the league, he has almost 200 games of experience (188), and we feel he can provide hard work and energy to this team," Holland said.
The same appears to be true of Franzen. At 6-2 and 207 pounds, Franzen is a center with size and strength, and he has the potential to be a defensive presence.
Franzen wanted to sign this summer and play in North America. "It was time," he said. "This is the best league, the best players. I wanted this opportunity."
Ted Kulfan can be reached at (313) 223-4606 or ted.kulfan@detnews.com.
Copyright © 2005
The Detroit News.
Use of this site indicates your agreement to the Terms of Service (updated 12/19/2002).