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Prospects Watch Backstrom set for top-four minutes at Alaska Anchorage ... Nils Backstrom is expected to log plenty of ice time as a top-four defenseman at the University of Alaska Anchorage this season. The Detroit Red Wings prospect from Stockholm, Sweden, is set to embark in his freshman campaign of NCAA Division 1 hockey at Alaska Anchorage, and could log up to 25 minutes of ice on a nightly basis. “He’s a solid, two-way defenseman who’s shown he can play in all situations — power play, penalty kill and a regular shift,” said Seawolves head coach Dave Shyiak. “He’s got good size, he skates well, but the best part of his game is he’s got a real good feel and instincts for moving the puck.” Backstrom has not yet appeared in a Western Collegiate Hockey Association game, though he has gone without a point in two non-conference contests. The 6-foot, 200-pounder had seven goals and 11 assists for 18 points in 41 games with Djurgarden at Sweden’s under-20 level last season. An excellent student, Backstrom was ready and willing to try his luck in North America when the Seawolves came calling this summer. The move to Alaska Anchorage gives the Red Wings until 2010 to sign Backstrom, a big deal considering the 20-year-old was selected as a long-term project in the 11th round (290th overall) of the 2004 draft. “The Red Wings are excited about it because they get four years to watch him develop,” said Shyiak. “He was not quite ready to play in the Swedish Elite League, so he’s going to get more opportunity to play (at the NCAA level) than (he would have) playing pro (in Sweden).” FINE LINE: Forward Justin Abdelkader (Michigan State, NCAA) began his sophomore year this weekend with a goal and an assist in two games. Abdelkader, rated Detroit’s eighth-best prospect in RedWingsCentral.com’s most recent ranking, is skating on a line with fellow sophomores Tim Kennedy and Tim Crowder. The three played together last year as freshmen. “Last year was all new and exciting, and this year, their room for growth is tremendous,” Spartans head coach Rick Comley told USCHO.com. STAMLER BULKS UP: The Seattle Times reported earlier this month that 6-foot-1 defenseman Bretton Stamler (Seattle, Western Hockey League) has bulked up to 207 pounds and is looking good. “Stams is probably as focused a guy as we have and he knows it’s time for him to step up and impact the game more,” Thunderbirds general manager Russ Farwell told the paper. “He’s really improved his shot and become a bigger force on the power play. He’s really made himself into a player.” Stamler has two goals and five assists in nine games. CAPTAIN ELLIS: Veteran minor-leaguer Matt Ellis earned the Grand Rapids Griffins’ captain’s “C” for the second straight year. Defensemen Derek Meech and Dan Smith have been named assistant captains. NOTES: The Red Wings assigned center Valtteri Filppula (finger) and defenseman Jonathan Ericsson (back) to Grand Rapids this week as they recovered from training-camp injuries and came off the injured reserve. They appeared in two games for the Griffins this week. HOT: Forward Jan Mursak (Saginaw, Ontario Hockey League) is seventh in league scoring after producing three goals and five assists in three games this week ... Goaltender Daniel Larsson (Djurgarden, Swedish Elite League) has been outstanding in the early going, third in the country in goals-against average (1.80) and second in save percentage (.937) ... Defenseman Logan Pyett (Regina, Western Hockey League) had a goal and four assists in four games this week after a slow start. COLD: Forward Cory Emmerton (Kingston, OHL) has just one assist in his last three games, a surprising slump given his dominant start ... Forward Nick Oslund (Tri-City, United States Hockey League) is not known for his offense, but is pointless in his first three games since leaving the U.S. high school ranks ... Forward Evan McGrath (Grand Rapids, American Hockey League) has been scratched for the past two games in his rookie pro campaign. 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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