Albert Johansson found himself back in familiar colors this week, and the Detroit Red Wings defenseman gave Färjestad a much-needed boost on the blue line.
Johansson last skated with the Swedish club when he helped it win the SHL championship. Now, he’s back helping out in a more temporary role, stepping in as Färjestad dealt with a shortage of defensemen and coach Cam Abbott was staring at practice with only five blueliners available.
Johansson was one of three players brought in to make sure the club could run full defense drills. Noel Fransen, who’s set to join the Carolina Hurricanes this season, and teenager Tom Bjurman also suited up alongside him.
“It’s great to have eight defenders in training,” Abbott told Swedish website Värmlands Folkblad.
Färjestad’s depth took a hit with injuries to Magnus Nygren and Axel Bergkvist, while Måns Gudmundsson is away on a national team assignment. The club also lost Cal Foote after signing him, then voiding the contract two days later because of fan unrest tied to Foote’s involvement in the Hockey Canada sexual assault court case.
Johansson’s connection to the club runs through that championship run in 2021-22, when he posted two goals and eight points in 19 playoff games to help Färjestad finish the job.
That was his final season in Europe. He moved on to the AHL’s Grand Rapids Griffins for 2022-23 and has spent the last two seasons as a regular with Detroit, working in the team’s third defensive pairing.
Red Wings vice president of hockey operations Nicklas Lidstrom praised Johansson’s development in an interview with Swedish website Hockey Sverige.
“He fought hard in the farm team, and we saw that he was making progress all the time and getting better and better,” Lidstrom told Swedish website Hockey Sverige about Johansson.
“It was probably his skating that stood out, but also his competitive instinct. He can play a little dirty or on the edge, but we like that he competes all the time. Plus, he’s good with the puck too, so there were many different things we liked about Albert.
“Also, that he has a good understanding of the game.”
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