The sample size is small, but Detroit Red Wings prospect Axel Holmstrom's skill set is turning heads.
The Wings’ seventh-round pick from the 2014 NHL entry draft scored in his second Calder Cup playoff game to help the Grand Rapids Griffins take a 2-0 lead on the Milwaukee Admirals in the first-round, best-of-5 series. Game 3 is Wednesday at Milwaukee.
“He’s got great vision and his puck skills are excellent,” Griffins coach Todd Nelson told the Free Press. “He does have to work on his skating ability.”
That latter phrase seems to go with the name Holmstrom; former Wings forward Tomas Holmstrom (no relation) endured endless good-natured – and some less so – ribbing for his poor skating, but he found a way to stick around for 1000-plus NHL games, gain prominence for his net-front play, and win four Stanley Cups.