Red Wings Future T-Rex Grewe Extinct In Finland

Albin Grewe’s nickname is T-Rex and as of today, hockey’s T-Rex is extinct in Finland.

European clubs don’t fool around when a player isn’t delivering the goods, as Grewe found out. The Detroit Red Wings prospect has been released by Finnish club Ilves Tampere.

“We would like to thank Albin for the work done [for] Ilves and wish him luck in the new challenges,” Ilves’ Sports Director Timo Koskela said on the club’s web page. The club also stated that the release was completed with the mutual consent of both player and team. Ilves signed Grewe to a one-year contract with an option year last spring.

Able to play either wing, Grewe saw duty in just four games for Ilves and didn’t collect a point. The only stat he registered was a trip to the penalty box to serve a minor infraction.

Selected 66th overall in the 2019 NHL entry draft, Steve Yzerman’s first as GM of the Red Wings, the same draft that’s brought defenseman Moritz Seider to the team.

Grewe hasn’t signed a contract with the Wings. He spent most of last season with Djurgardens of the Swedish league. The campaign saw Grewe posting 3-3-6 totals and 29 penalty minutes in 39 games.

Albin Grewe Had Pro Tryout In Grand Rapids Last Season

At the end of the Swedish season, Grewe signed a pro tryout contract with the Grand Rapids Griffins, Detroit’s AHL farm club. He played 11 games for the Griffins, collecting two assists and sitting out six penalty minutes.

An agitator on the ice, Grewe has admitted in the past that he models his game after Boston Bruins forward Brad Marchand. He lists Marchand as his favorite player.

“I like to go under my opponents’ skin,” Grewe said. “I like to hit my opponents. Stuff like that.

“I’ve always played as I do, and then I also watched Brad Marchand and if I can play like he does . . .”

Where will Grewe play next is the question that must be answered now. If the Wings saw a place for him in GR, he’d be in camp with the club. Does he return to his homeland and play in Sweden?

It would appear that the T-Rex has much to chew on regarding his hockey future.