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Prospects Watch Axelsson off the ice as season hits full swing ... An off-ice feud has prevented Detroit Red Wings prospect Dick Axelsson from making his Swedish Elite League debut this season. Axelsson signed a two-year contract with Djurgardens this fall, but had a year remaining on a four-year deal with second-level club Huddinge. Huddinge is seeking financial compensation from Djurgardens before Axelsson plays a game in the Swedish Elite League. Some have speculated the dispute could take months before being resolved. Axelsson, drafted in the second round (62nd overall) this summer, had 36 goals and 18 assists for 53 points and 167 penalty minutes in 51 games with Huddinge at Sweden’s junior and third-tier levels last season. The 19-year-old left-winger had a terrific pre-season, but a golden opportunity to establish himself as a top-flight prospect is now on hold. INJURY REPORT: Center Valtteri Filppula (finger) and defenseman Jonathan Ericsson (back spasms) started the season on Detroit’s injured reserve. They won’t be assigned to the minors until they are medically cleared to play ... Defenseman Juho Mielonen appeared in his first game of the season this week after recovering from a shoulder injury suffered in August. Mielonen played a game for Ilves Tampere’s junior team, ringing up 16 minutes in penalties. He is expected be a regular in the Finnish Elite League by month’s end. FAB FOUR: Four prospects from RedWingsCentral.com’s prospect ranking (released in June) cracked Detroit’s opening-night, 23-man NHL roster: forwards Jiri Hudler (ranked third) and Tomas Kopecky (10th); defenseman Brett Lebda (sixth) and goaltender Joey MacDonald (16th). POSITION CHANGE: Stefan Blom (Arlanda, Sweden’s third level) was drafted 194th overall in 2003 as a defenseman, but is now a center. Blom has a goal in six games and has won just 40 of 97 faceoffs. HOT: Center Andreas Sundin (Jukurit, Finland’s second level) has six goals in nine games, a resurgence after a transfer from Sweden ... Defenseman Jeff May (Prince Albert, Western Hockey League) is tied for fourth in WHL scoring among blueliners, with eight points in six games ... Goaltender Daniel Larsson (Djurgardens, Swedish Elite League) has stopped 62 of 66 shots in his rookie year for a 1.66 goals-against average in three starts ... Goaltender Stefan Liv (Grand Rapids, American Hockey League) had a successful debut in North America, stopping 33 of 34 shots for a victory ... COLD: Goaltender Jimmy Howard (Grand Rapids, AHL) allowed five goals on 31 shots in his season-opener, a loss ... Center Evan McGrath (Grand Rapids, AHL) kicked off his rookie pro campaign without points in his first two games ... Defenseman Jakub Kindl (Kitchener, OHL) is a disappointing minus-6 with a goal and two assists in his first five games ... The following is this season’s statistical report to date:
The following is this season's statistical report for goaltenders to date:
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