Detroit Red Wings

The Daily: Two Red Wings Draftees Switching Teams; Flames Choose Huberdeau Over Sutter

Liam Dower Nilsson leaving Frolunda

Published

12 months ago

May 4, 2023

Bob Duff

Red Wings draft pick Ethan Phillips is transferring from Boston to Western Michigan.

Two Detroit Red Wings draft picks will be skating in new homes for the 2023-24 season.

Center Ethan Phillips is utilizing the NCAA transfer portal to shift from the Boston Terriers to the Western Michigan Broncos. In 89 games over four seasons at Boston, fifth-year senior Phillips was accounting for 12 goals and 26 assists. He was selected 97th overall by Detroit in the 2019 NHL entry draft.

Swedish center Liam Dower Nilsson is moving on and down in his homeland’s hockey structure. Detroit’s 134th overall choice during the 2021 draft, Dower Nilsson was starting out last season with Frolunda of the SHL, the same club that sent Lucas Raymond and Simon Edvinsson to the Red Wings.

With Liam Dower-Nilsson signing with HockeyAllsvenskan top team Björklöven the #LGRW draftee is probably facing his most important season of his career.

Does he have the tools to be an elite player or not?

— Lars Thorsell (@LarsThorsell) April 24, 2023

However, it wasn’t a case of third-time lucky. After producing 1-4-5 digits over 22 games, Frolunda was loaning Dower Nilsson to Vasteras of Hockey Allsvenskan, the Swedish second tier. There, playing for the club that was once home to Red Wings icon Nicklas Lidstrom, Dower Nillson was only good for 3-12-15 numbers over 32 games. He did enjoy a solid playoff, garnering 3-2-5 totals in seven games.

For the 2023-24 campaign, Dower Nilsson will be moving to Hockey Allsvenskan on a full-time contract. He’s leaving Frolunda and joining Bjorkloven.

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Red Wings Offseason

Two former Detroit players are heading in opposite directions in the KHL. Forward Teemu Pulkkinen, with the Red Wings from 2013-16, was let go by Traktor Chelyabinsk. In his second season with the club, Pulkkinen’s goal production dipped from 22 in 49 games to 15 in 63 games.

Meanwhile, defenseman Libor Sulak was signing with Avangard Omsk. A Red Wing briefly for six games in 2018-19, Sulak spent most of the past two seasons with Vladivostok Admiral of the KHL.

Hockey Now Network

Pittsburgh: Could a homecoming be in the works for Vancouver Canucks assistant GM Derek Clancey? Formerly the Pittsburgh Penguins director of player personnel, he’s rumored to be in the consideration for the club’s vacant GM position.

Boston: Forward Nick Foligno is making his case to stay with the Boston Bruins.

Florida: Channeling their inner Roger Miller, the Florida Panthers are kings of the road in the Stanley Cup playoffs.

Montreal: Might the Montreal Canadiens be considering keeping some of the club’s impending free agents?

Vegas: These are the three keys for the Vegas Golden Knights if they want to beat the Edmonton Oilers in their second-round playoff series.

Los Angeles: If the Los Angeles Kings want to move forward, they need to find support pieces to help ease the burden on Anze Kopitar and Drew Doughty.