Detroit Red Wings

Red Wings Daily: Larsson A Goalie Without A Team

At the age of 23, former Red Wings goalie prospect Filip Larsson finds himself without a team

Published

2 years ago

May 23, 2022

Bob Duff

Former Red Wings prospect Filip Larsson was released by Sweden's HV71.

Not so long ago, the billing was displaying Filip Larsson as the goaltender of the future for the Detroit Red Wings. Today, he is a goaltender facing an uncertain future.

The final year of the three-year entry-level deal he signed with the Wings done, Larsson was recently given his release by HV71. He was among 11 players dropped from the squad that earned promotion to the Swedish Hockey League from Hockey Allsvenskan, the Swedish second division.

Larsson played a pivotal role in HV71’s promotion battle. In the final against Björklöven he played four games after HV71’s No. 1 goalie Jonas Gunnarsson was out with injury. Larsson was 13-4 with a 2.25 goals-against average and .911 save percentage for HV71.

Svettig räddning av Filip Larsson (@HV71)!#fredagshockey #hockeyallsvenskan #sverigesmestunderhållandeliga pic.twitter.com/ZYPmV0pS0d

— HockeyAllsvenskan (@hockeyallsvensk) October 2, 2021

The Red Wings selected Larsson 167th overall in the 2016 NHL entry draft. Following s stellar 2018-19 freshman season at Denver – the same school where Red Wings prospects Carter Mazur, Antti Tuomisto and Shai Buium won the 2021-22 NCAA title – Larsson turned pro. Splitting his rookie season between AHL Grand Rapids and ECHL Toledo, Larsson was summarily unimpressive.

Posting a 2-5 record, .843 save percentage and 4.11 GAA with the Griffins, Larsson was moving down to the Walleye. He was better there – 4-6, 2.72 GAA, .910 SV% – but the Wings had seen enough.

Last season, the Wings were sending Larsson on loan to Almtuna of the Allsvenskan. He stuggled there and was shipping out again on loan to Frederikshavn of the Danish League.

Also On The Move

A couple of other former Red Wings draft picks were also on the move in European hockey circles. Defenseman Malte Setkov (100th, 2017) transferred from Sweden’s AIK to Denmark’s Rungsted Seier Capital. In Germany, forward Louis-Marc Aubry (81st, 2010) switched to Kolner Haie from ERC Ingolstadt.

It’s a subtle reminder that many more prospects miss the mark than make the NHL grade.

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