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| Dec. 5 Prospects Watch Swedish prospect following in older brother's footsteps ... ' If you’ve seen P.J. Axelsson play for the Boston Bruins, you’ll have a good feel for what to expect from his younger brother, Anton. Anton, a Detroit Red Wings sixth-round pick in 2004, is Swedish Elite League rookie with Vastra Frolunda. He has two goals and two assists in 26 games, skating primarily on the fourth line. P.J., who has six goals and 11 assists for 17 points in 28 games with Boston this season, has made a name for himself in the NHL as a fast, energetic, safety-valve winger who can play on a scoring line or a checking line and kill penalties. Anton, a left-winger, shows similar promise. “Anton’s probably got better hockey sense than his brother, and he’s probably got more upside points-wise,” said Wings director of European scouting Hakan Andersson. “But he’s like his brother. He chases the puck. He’s an excellent two-way player and he can do some things with the puck.” Anton’s linemates are Columbus Blue Jackets draft pick Kirill Starkov at right wing and undrafted 19-year-old Sebastian Karlsson at center. Anton is expected to be a key player for the Swedish team at the world junior championship, which kicks off later this month in Vancouver. The Red Wings have until June 1, 2008, to sign Anton. HOT: Center Jiri Hudler (Grand Rapids, American Hockey League) got the call to the NHL after producing 35 points in just 22 games, second in the AHL ... Winger Tomas Kopecky (Grand Rapids, AHL) has made the Red Wings look good for re-signing him, playing with intensity and producing 20 points in 24 games ... Center Tyler Haskins (Toronto, Ontario Hockey League) had two goals and six assists in three games this week ... Defenseman Jakub Kindl (Kitchener, OHL) had two goals and three assists in two games, putting him fifth in scoring among OHL defensemen ... COLD: Goaltender Joey MacDonald (Grand Rapids, AHL) is still trying to find his form after returning from off-season back surgery ... Defenseman Jeff May (Prince Albert, Western Hockey League) has just five assists in his last 22 games ... Winger Michael Hackert (Grand Rapids, AHL) is struggling to get ice time since signing as a free agent ... Winger Tomek Valtonen (Jokerit Helsinki, Finnish Elite League) is a minus-12 this season ... Center Christofer Lofberg (Djurgarden, Swedish Elite League) scored his first goal of the season this week, but inconsistent work ethic reportedly hurt is bid for a spot on Sweden’s world junior team ... The following is this season’s statistical report to date:
The following is this season’s statistical report for goaltenders to date:
NOTE: Prospects Watch appears Mondays and does not include non-prospects such as older unsigned Europeans, career minor-leaguers, or restricted free agents such as Dmitri Bykov. |
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