The Detroit Red Wings have signed goaltender, Victor Brattstrom, to a two-year, entry-level contract. Brattstrom, who was due to start next season in the Finnish Liiga joins the Red Wings for the 2020-21 season.
The Detroit #RedWings today signed goaltender Victor Brattstrom to a two-year entry-level contract.
Details: https://t.co/OQ1nuetJ36 pic.twitter.com/Fhz1bvEhkz
— Detroit Red Wings (@DetroitRedWings) April 29, 2020
Victor Brattstrom signs with the Detroit Red Wings
Brattstrom has been playing in Allsvenskan, Sweden’s second tier for the past three seasons. In 60-career Allsvenskan appearances, Brattstrom has posted a 43-17 record with a 0.915 save percentage and 2.10 goals against average. He was originally drafted in the sixth round, 160th overall by the Detroit Red Wings at the 2018 NHL Draft.
The 6’5”, 200-pound, Gothenburg, Sweden native has come off a successful 2019-20 season with Timra IK. Brattstrom played in 45 of 52 regular season games as the team finished third in the league. They also qualified for the playoffs and a chance at promotion to the SHL, Sweden’s premier division. Brattstrom earned a single season career-high, 33 wins, tied for first in the league. He also ranked second in GAA (2.13) and sixth in save percentage (0.914).
Brattstrom played at the highest level in Sweden for just one year. This was during a miserable relegation campaign with Timra in which he won just five games. He departed from the SHL after posting a .898 save percentage and 2.81 GAA. He ranked among the bottom 10 goalies that year.
Brattstrom hasn’t quite reached the level expected of him yet despite starting his career with great promise. He spent four seasons with Frolunda HC’s junior clubs, posting the top save percentage (0.930) in the under 18’s league. He then matched this feat (0.935) at the under 20 level after he had moved to Timra in 2016-17.
What This Means For The Future
The Swedish goaltender bolsters the AHL pipeline for the Red Wings. However it is unlikely he features in the NHL roster next year thus leaving the goaltending position a curious one in Detroit.
Jimmy Howard is an unrestricted free agent this summer and unlikely to re-sign given his horrible year. Jonathan Bernier becomes a UFA next summer. And all the while Grand Rapids, Detroit’s farm team, don’t have someone excelling enough to push for NHL minutes. It seems that more is still to come on Detroit’s goalie situation.
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