If you require any further evidence that drafting goalies isn’t an exact science, look no further than Detroit Red Wings draft pick Jesper Eliasson. The Detroit brass admitted as much when selecting Eliasson 84th overall in the 2018 NHL Entry Draft.

“When you look back on goaltenders, it’s a crapshoot a lot of times,” then Red Wings director of amateur scouting Tyler Wright said at the time. “Just get them into the goaltending pool and hopefully somebody’s going to start separating themselves.”

Eliasson did separate himself from the pack – in the wrong direction. At first offering plenty of promise, the six-foot-five Swede backstopped his country to a bronze medal at the 2020 IIHF World Junior Championship. However, he’s traveled a bumpy road as a pro, one with so many twists and turns that it resulted in the Red Wings deciding to pass on offering Eliasson a contract.

In his homeland, Eliasson has played for Almtuna IS in HockeyAllsvenskan, Sweden’s second division. He suited up for Vasby IK in HockeyEttan, Sweden’s third division. Eliasson also stopped pucks for IF Troja-Ljungby in both of those leagues. His time in the SHL, Sweden’s top pro league, amounted to one game for Vaxjo Lakers HC in 2019-20.

Abroad, Eliasson played with EC Salzburg in Austria and Stjernen Hockey in Norway. And now he’ll be adding another destination to his passport. Eliasson has signed with Poland’s GTS Katowice. A top team in the Polish league, GTS Katowice has played in the final four years in a row, winning in 2022 and 2023. But it’s a long way off for a netminder once considered a legitimate NHL prospect.

Red Wings Second Round Pick Finds New Home

The Red Wings thought so much of forward Robert Mastrosimone on draft day that they selected him 54th overall in 2019. That was Steve Yzerman’s first draft class as Detroit GM.

However, much like Eliasson, Mastrosimone couldn’t convince the Wings that he was worthy of an NHL contract. Cast adrift, he would sign an AHL deal with the Toronto Marlies.

After two seasons with the Marlies in which he accounted for 14 goals in 95 AHL games, Mastrosimone is on the move again. He’s agreed to terms on an AHL pact with the Charlotte Checkers. That’s the top farm club of the Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers.

Ice Chips

Right-winger Ryan O’Reilly, selected 98th overall by the Red Wings in 2018, is joining Greenville of the ECHL. He played for Orlando in that league last season . . . Defenseman Adam Almquist (210th overall, 2009 NHL entry draft) has been dropped by Germany’s Kolner Haie. Almquist played one game for the Red Wings during the 2013-14 season. He won an AHL Calder Cup title with the Grand Rapids Griffins in 2012-13 . . . Left-winger Kirill Tyutyayev (190th, 2019) re-signed with Fort Wayne of the ECHL . . . Forward Brady Gilmour (193rd, 2017) is joining the Manchester Storm of the EIHL . . . Defenseman Mattias Backman (146th, 2011) was dropped by Norway’s Frisk Asker . . . Defenseman Gustav Berglund (177th, 2019) signed with Denmark’s Rodovre Red Bulls.