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Axelsson knows he 'can be better'
By Sarah Lindenau - RedWingsCentral.com / September 11, 2009Swedish winger Dick Axelsson is looking to step up his game heading into the Detroit Red Wings' main training camp on the weekend.
Axelsson, one of the senior-most players at the NHL prospects tournament in Traverse City at age 22, struggled to produce offence and finished the week with just one assist and was a team-worst minus-3 in three games.
"I haven't played so good," Axelsson said. "I have a little problem with the smaller rink, but I know I can be better and I have to show it."
The 6-foot-2, 176-pound left-winger was scratched for Thursday's 4-1 victory over the Dallas Stars in the fifth-place game. He re-aggravated a knee injury when he slammed into the New York Rangers' goal post on Wednesday.
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| Dick Axelsson had a disappointing prospects tournament but hopes to bounce back. More photos from Thursday » |
"I had a knee problem before but it is worse from when I hit the goal post," he said. "I have an MRI (Friday) and then I will know what is happening."
Axelsson had his fair share of injuries last season. Early on, he broke his collar bone and later he had a broken finger and pulled groin, forcing him to miss several playoff games with Farjestad, the Swedish Elite League champions.
He has also had his share of struggles off the ice. He was kicked off Djurgarden in December for what the team described as poor on- and -work ethic, despite recording five goals and seven assists in 18 games.
"The coaches said there were 12 forwards who were better than me," Axelsson said. "So there was not much I could do."
The Red Wings believe in Axelsson's talent and are helping him understand he will need to work hard and not just rely on his skill. He took that to heart in the off-season and stepped up his off-ice training to get ready for 2009-10.
"I hired a personal trainer who works with the Red Wings and we worked together all summer." Axelsson said. "It was a good summer."
Axelsson got a taste of the North American game last spring when he joined the American Hockey League's Grand Rapids Griffins on an amateur tryout. He didn't play because of injury, but soaked up the atmosphere.
"I got to know the players and the town a little bit," he said. "It was a good learning experience. I am excited to play hockey there."
EHRHARDT IMPRESSING: Red Wings assistant general manager Jim Nill described Travis Ehrhardt's defensive game as "steady and solid."
The Red Wings surprised the 6-foot, 197-pound defenseman by signing him to a three-year entry-level contract in July after the completion of his season with the Portland Winter Hawks of the Western Hockey League.
"The day before, I had committed to go to Colorado's camp because I had a couple of camp offers," Ehrhardt said. "Then the next day Detroit called me with a contract offer. I talked with my agent and decided to do that instead."
Ehrhardt previously attended training camp in 2008 as a free agent and Detroit nearly signed him then, but decided to wait a year.
"We had a good meeting at the end of camp last year," said Ehrhardt, who had nine goals among 37 points in 68 games last season. "They liked what they saw in me and said if I was a year older they would have signed me out of camp last year."
Ehrhardt fits into the Red Wings' puck-moving system with his good first pass.
"I love controlling the puck and having the puck on my stick rushing up ice," he said. "I also take care of my own end. I am a defenseman and not a forward."
The 20-year-old blueliner spent the summer working on strength and power drills to prepare for his rookie season at the professional level.
"On the ice I was skating with all professional guys to get used to playing with those bigger guys," Ehrhardt said. "I was working on body position drills to learn how to handle the bigger guys. They are tough to handle in the corners, but I am physically strong so I can handle myself."
Ehrhardt realizes it's a big jump to the professional game after spending time with the Manitoba Moose on a tryout at the end of last season.
"It was a good learning experience and I saw what it takes to be a pro player." Ehrhardt said. "You have to be good every night and you can't take nights off."
NOTES
- The Carolina Hurricanes won the championship by shutting out the Minnesota Wild 4-0. This was Carolina's first year at the tournament. The New York Ranger took third place and the St. Louis Blues placed fourth.
- The Red Wings ouplayed Dallas much of the game, finishing with a 41-25 edge in shots. They were rewarded for their efforts with goals from Mitchell Callahan, Landon Ferraro, Jan Mursak, and Logan Pyett
- Tomas Tatar saw his three game point streak end, but not for a lack of effort. The skilled Slovak was noticeable all over the ice.
- Thomas McCollum had an excellent game, stopping 24 of 25 shots on net and making key saves early in the first and late in the game.
- Callahan squared off with Kelowna teammate Jamie Benn in an entertaining bout. There were several punches early but a lot of grabbing and yapping towards the end. Callahan was an assist shy of a Gordie Howe hat trick.
- After Thursday's game, Nill singled out McCollum, Mursak, Ehrhardt, Raedeke and Ferraro for their strong play at the tournament. He was especially pleased with Tatar, who finished tied for fifth in the tournament points race.
"Tatar has stood out for a young kid," Nill said. "When an 18 year-old does good against a 24-year-old you know he's doing something good."
- Despite the Red Wings' fifth-place finish, Nill was pleased.
"Overall the guys played well," he said. "They had a tough game against the Rangers, but other than that, they had a good tournament. It's a learning tool."
- Defenseman Gleason Fournier is having his shoulder examined.
"He had an MRI done and we are going to sit down with the doctors and see if it is best to rehab or get an operation," Nill said.
- The Red Wing will host their charity golf tournament on Friday beginning at 1:30 p.m. at the Grand Traverse Resort. On-ice action resumes on Sunday at 9 a.m. with the first scrimmage of the main training camp.
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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 | F | Gustav Nyquist » | Maine (NCAA) |
| 05 | F | Jan Mursak » | Grand Rapids (AHL) |
| 06 | G | Thomas McCollum » | Grand Rapids (AHL) |
| 07 | F | Joakim Andersson » | Frolunda (SEL) |
| 08 | F | Mattias Ritola » | Grand Rapids (AHL) |
| 09 | F | Landon Ferraro » | Red Deer (WHL) |
| 10 | D | Brian Lashoff » | Grand Rapids (AHL) |