from Helene St. James of the Detroit Free Press,

Steve Yzerman wants to field a competitive team, and to that end, took a flier on an undrafted European player.

The Detroit Red Wings signed Pontus Andreasson, a 23-year-old forward out of Sweden, on Monday to a one-year deal.

Signing an undrafted European hasn’t yielded great results for the Wings in recent years, but there’s little risk compared to the potential for reward. Andreasson (5 feet 10, 183 pounds, shoots left) had 18 goals and 20 assists in 52 regular-season games with Luleå and 13 points in 13 playoff games. Luleå lost to Farjestad, 3-0, in Game 7 of the finals.

The Wings hope Andreasson fares better than Mathias Brome….

In prior years, the Wings also have taken a flier on European free agents including defenseman Libor Sulak and goaltenders Harri Sateri and Matěj Machovský. None made an impact.

The Wings have 10 forwards under contract through next season. Jonatan Berggren, a second-round pick from the 2018 draft who had 21 goals among 64 points in 70 games with the Grand Rapids Griffins this season, is expected to challenge for a job in Detroit next season. Yzerman, though, said a few days after the season ended that he won’t hold spots open for prospects — they have to prove they belong in the lineup, like Lucas Raymond did last fall.

a bit more ($)

Posted by Paul from Motown Area on 05/17/22 at 07:47 AM ET

Oh great. Now we can look forward to the ‘Church’ line:

(Saint Joseph) Veleno, (Pope) Pius Suter, and Pontus (Pilate) Andreasson

Posted by exor54 on 05/17/22 at 08:26 AM ET

Get 20 pounds on him with some wheels and let’s talk.

Posted by Chet from twitter: thegansen on 05/17/22 at 08:29 AM ET

Maybe Pontus can pilot the PP to some goals.

Oh, that’s been done.

Posted by RWBill on 05/17/22 at 09:37 AM ET

Oh great. Now we can look forward to the ‘Church’ line:

Posted by exor54 on 05/17/22 at 08:26 AM ET

I still don’t think they stand a prayer.

Posted by RWBill on 05/17/22 at 09:38 AM ET

per Elliotte Friedman tweet,

Hearing Winnipeg is interviewing Barry Trotz for its coaching position today.

Remember Trotz is from Winnipeg.

Posted by Paul from Motown Area on 05/17/22 at 01:32 PM ET

the historic elton john song…

Barry and the Jets.

Posted by RWBill on 05/17/22 at 03:01 PM ET

I haven’t been amped up for trotz.  Just don’t see it or really want it.  Can’t say exactly why but I don’t like the taste of it.  I do think he’d be a great fit for that Winnipeg team though and his ties are a bonus.

Posted by ThatGuy on 05/17/22 at 06:52 PM ET

I haven’t been amped up for trotz

Same here.

Posted by Kate from PA now in SC-made in Detroit on 05/17/22 at 09:50 PM ET

Posted by exor54 on 05/17/22 at 08:26 AM ET

Hilarious! Love the Church Line

Posted by damndog revenge From the bowels of Detroit on 05/18/22 at 10:08 AM ET

I still don’t think they stand a prayer.
Posted by RWBill on 05/17/22 at 09:38 AM ET

Have faith.  It’ll be heaven sent.

Posted by SYF from impossible and oddly communally possessive sluts on 05/19/22 at 11:48 PM ET