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RWC REPORT: Kolosov, Axelsson not signed
By Matthew Wuest - RedWingsCentral.com / June 2, 2008The Detroit Red Wings didn't sign European prospects Sergei Kolosov and Anton Axelsson by Sunday's deadline, but they'll hang onto their exclusive signing rights until a transfer agreement is in place.
The NHL and International Ice Hockey Federation backed out of a four-year deal in January, and since then the two sides have been far apart.
What it all means is that the signing deadline — which would have been June 1 at 5 p.m. Eastern — didn't apply to Kolosov and Axelsson.
The Red Wings like both prospects. Kolosov is a rare bruising defenceman in the system, a hard hitter with a 6-foot-4, 187-pound frame. Axelsson is a fast, hard-working checker who plays a prototypical fourth-line NHL game.
The extra time could come in handy. Next summer, the Red Wings will likely sign Joakim Andersson and Zack Torquato. Randy Cameron is a long-shot and Miroslav Blatak is all but forgotten. That means the Red Wings will have plenty of room to ink Axelsson or Kolosov, if the mood strikes them.
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The next wave
RWC's top 10 prospects (2009-10 preliminary)
| 01 | F | Tomas Tatar » | Grand Rapids (AHL) |
| 02 | D | Jakub Kindl » | Grand Rapids (AHL) |
| 03 | D | Brendan Smith » | Wisconsin (NCAA) |
| 04 | G | Thomas McCollum » | Grand Rapids (AHL) |
| 05 | F | Gustav Nyquist » | Maine (NCAA) |
| 06 | F | Landon Ferraro » | Red Deer (WHL) |
| 07 | F | Jan Mursak » | Grand Rapids (AHL) |
| 08 | F | Cory Emmerton » | Grand Rapids (AHL) |
| 09 | F | Joakim Andersson » | Frolunda (SEL) |
| 10 | F | Mattias Ritola » | Grand Rapids (AHL) |