RWC Report
Swedes hit the ice as prospect action picks up ...

By Matthew Wuest - www.RedWingsCentral.com
October 1, 2007

The Swedish Elite League opened for business this past week, with three Detroit Red Wings prospects getting their seasons started.

Left-winger Dick Axelsson, one of the more intriguing prospects to watch this season, is off to a good start on Djurgardens’ third line. He has a goal and an assist in three games skating with seasoned veterans Kristoffer Ottosson at center and Niklas Anger on the right wing.

Axelsson, a 20-year-old, 6-foot-2, 198-pounder, is an exciting prospect because of his goal-scoring potential, perhaps unmatched in Detroit’s system.

Goaltender Daniel Larsson is also playing for Djurgardens, allowing 12 goals in three games with an 0-2-1 record. The 21-year-old stopper has a 3.75 goals-against average and a .875 save percentage.

Elsewhere, left-winger Anton Axelsson (no relation to Dick, but the brother of Boston Bruins forward P.J. Axelsson) picked up an assist in three games with Timra, the former team of fellow Swedes Henrik Zetterberg and Johan Ryno. The 21-year-old is skating on Timra’s second line.

NOTES: Forward Mattias Ritola surprised during the exhibition schedule, outlasting the likes of Johan Ryno, Evan McGrath, Darren Helm and Jakub Kindl ... Defenseman Derek Meech won the seventh defenseman job in Detroit after Brent Sopel signed with the Chicago Blackhawks and Kyle Quincey broke his hand ... Defenseman Jonathan Ericsson was the last defenseman cut, not including the injured Quincey. He went to the minors on the same day as Ritola and goaltender Jimmy Howard, who also impressed at camp ... Winger Igor Grigorenko has a legitimate shot at Detroit’s final forward spot.

The following is an up-to-date statistical report for skaters:

NAME TEAM LEAGUE GP G A PTS PIM

R U S S I A
Miroslav Blatak Ufa RUS 10 2 1 3 10
Gennady Stolyarov Moscow Dyn. RUS 6 1 0 1 6

S W E D E N
Dick Axelsson Djurgardens SWE 3 1 1 2 0
Anton Axelsson Timra SWE 3 0 1 1 6
Joakim Andersson Boras SWE-2 5 1 2 3 4

C H L
Randy Cameron Moncton QMJHL 6 2 4 6 6
Jan Mursak Saginaw OHL 4 2 2 4 2
Cory Emmerton Kingston OHL 5 2 2 4 0
Zack Torquato Erie OHL 4 2 1 3 6
Logan Pyett Regina WHL 5 2 0 2 7

The following is an up-to-date statistical report for goaltenders:

NAME TEAM LEAGUE GP W-L-O GAA SPCT
Daniel Larsson Djurgardens SWE 3 0-2-1 3.92 .875

LEAGUE LEGEND: RUS -- Russian Elite League; SWE -- Swedish Elite League; SWE-2 -- Swedish second level; OHL -- Ontario Hockey League; WHL -- Western Hockey League; QMJHL -- Quebec Major Junior Hockey League.