The Detroit Red Wings have not had much success recently with undrafted European free agents.
Steve Yzerman hopes Mattias Brome ends that trend.
The Red Wings signed Brome, a 6-foot, 183-pound left wing from Sweden, to a one-year entry-level contract in April.
“I like his hockey sense, I like his competitiveness,” Yzerman said. “He’s not a Henrik Zetterberg- or Pavel Datsyuk-type of finesse player, he’s a worker with some skills and can contribute and make plays and finish a little bit. We’ll see if that translates in the NHL.
“Hakan (director of European scouting Andersson) and (European scout) Thomas Carlsson, they know the young man well. Like the majority of Swedes … high character, great teammate. We’re hopeful he can make our roster and inject a little bit more offense (and) be a good two-way player for us.”
Brome, 25, finished sixth in scoring in the top Swedish League this past season, with 17 goals and 26 assists in 52 games, leading Orebo HK. The left shooter collected 24 goals and 56 points in 104 games during the previous two seasons combined with Mora IK.
Yzerman did not get an opportunity to see Brome play but watched many of his games on video and received good reports from Jiri Fischer, the team’s associate director of player personnel. Vancouver and Washington were among the teams pursuing Brome.
“He’s a good skater, has good skills,” Yzerman said. “He’s a worker, very competitive, with good hockey sense.”
Yzerman said Brome is coming off his best years, becoming “a real good player in that league.”
It has been a difficult transition from to North America for several Red Wings undrafted European free agents.
Swiss winger Damien Brunner had a decent rookie season in 2013, with 12 goals and 26 points in 44 games before signing with New Jersey as a free agent.
Defenseman Libor Sulak (Czech Republic) appeared in only six NHL games in 2018-19. Defenseman Oliwer Kaski (Finland) was traded to Carolina after 19 games with the Grand Rapids Griffins and did not appear in an NHL game.
Goaltenders Matej Machovsky (Czech Republic) and Patrik Rybar (Slovakia) did not advance past the AHL.
The Red Wings need an offensive boost after averaging 2.00 goals per game while finishing with by far the worst record in the NHL. Brome will have a good opportunity in training camp to make the roster.
Not signed: The Red Wings opted not to sign 2016 draft picks Alfons Malmstrom and Mattias Elfstrom before Monday’s deadline, relinquishing their rights. Malmstrom, a defenseman selected in the fourth round, played for Ostersunds IK in Sweden’s first division. Elfstrom, a winger chosen in the seventh round, played for IF Troja-Ljungby, also in Sweden’s first division.
The Red Wings maintain the rights of 2014 seventh-round pick Alexander Kadeykin, a 6-4 defenseman who plays for Ufa Salavant in the KHL, because he’s under defected player status. They haven’t decided whether they will sign him.
More: Red Wings final grades mirror miserable season
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