It has been a productive stretch for Detroit Red Wings prospect Charlie Forslund, who picked up milestones on back-to-back days in Sweden.
Forslund scored his first goal of the season Wednesday for Almtuna IS, helping them to a 3-2 shootout win over Östersunds IK in HockeyAllsvenskan, Sweden’s second division. His second-period power-play finish pushed Almtuna ahead 2-0, and the 20-year-old winger now has 1-1-2 in three games with the club this season.
That goal came one day after Forslund made his SHL debut with Brynas and collected his first point in the league, setting up a goal in a 9-2 win over Linkoping. He logged 10:49 of ice time on the fourth line in his first appearance in Sweden’s top division and earned the primary assist on Linus Olund’s goal that made it 6-1.
Brynas’ roster also features former Red Wings defensemen Robert Hagg and Christian Djoos, along with former Detroit draft pick Calle Jarnkrok.
Forslund’s path back to Almtuna makes sense in the context of Brynas’ roster moves. When Brynas added 13-year NHL veteran Jarnkrok late in the preseason, Forslund’s minutes dried up. He was loaned out to Almtuna, the same team he finished with last season.
Then, somewhat unexpectedly, he was recalled to Brynas on Tuesday when Jarnkrok was unavailable. Even so, Brynas coach Niklas Gällstedt made it clear he would rather have Forslund playing meaningful minutes than parked on the bench in the SHL.
“It all comes down to how much ice time we can give him,” Gällstedt said. “If he gets four or five minutes, then we don’t think it’s worth it.”
For Detroit’s 176th overall pick in the 2024 NHL Entry Draft, the arrangement gives him a chance to stay in rhythm and keep building his game while waiting for the next call from the big club.
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