{"id":205000,"date":"2025-09-06T12:49:12","date_gmt":"2025-09-06T12:49:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/205000\/"},"modified":"2025-09-06T12:49:12","modified_gmt":"2025-09-06T12:49:12","slug":"red-wings-checking-out-top-rated-swede","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/205000\/","title":{"rendered":"Red Wings Checking Out Top-Rated Swede"},"content":{"rendered":"

The real games haven\u2019t even gotten underway yet, and already, the Detroit<\/a> Red Wings are keeping tabs on the top Swedish prospect for the 2026 NHL entry draft.<\/p>\n

Hall of Fame defenseman Nicklas Lidstrom<\/a>, Detroit\u2019s vice president of hockey operations, was recently scouting Djurgardens center Viggo Bj\u00f6rck during SHL preseason action.<\/p>\n

He came away suitably impressed.<\/p>\n

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Viggo Bjorck scores on this one after some outstanding passing work between him and Filip Ekberg.<\/p>\n

3-2 Sweden. #U18MensWorlds<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/N4S0UqsPLh<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Steven Ellis (@SEllisHockey) May 3, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

\u201cI see that he is a good skater, his eyes are up,\u201d Lidstrom told Swedish Hockey News<\/a>. \u201cStrong in skating also for being as young as he is. You can see that he has good balance.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe looks up all the time, scans the ice. A good, incredibly good player.\u201d<\/p>\n

Bjorck Quickly Making Strides<\/p>\n

Bj\u00f6rck was naturally excited to hear such compliments from an icon of Swedish hockey.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s awesome,\u201d Bj\u00f6rck said. \u201cHe\u2019s still a damn good player, from his time. It\u2019s fun to hear.\u201d<\/p>\n

Bj\u00f6rck collected 74 points in 42 games in the Swedish J20 league as a 16-year-old. He has split the Swedish preseason between the Djurgardens SHL team and the club\u2019s junior squad.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou become more and more comfortable the more you play and get into the tempo and such,\u201d Bj\u00f6rck, 17, said. \u201cOf course, you are a little nervous. But I still think that is good. Then you get turned on and ready for the match.<\/p>\n

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The next generation of hockey players are making their mark and @CraigJButton<\/a> shares his observations of Swedish forward Viggo Bjorck: https:\/\/t.co\/Xs1m800VJ9<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/6FakyjUNQJ<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 TSN Hockey (@TSNHockey) December 14, 2024<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

\u201cThe coaches also help. They tell you what to do in terms of the game. But then they also say, \u2018Don\u2019t hesitate, just go for it. Make the decision you make. Then we can talk about it afterwards.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou try to follow the system as best as possible, but don\u2019t go around thinking about it too much. Everyone makes mistakes sometimes anyway.\u201d<\/p>\n

Lately, with the big club, he\u2019s been skating on an all-teenager line with a pair of first-round picks from the 2025 NHL entry draft \u2013 Anton Frondell (third overall, Chicago) and Victor Eklund (16th overall, New York Islanders).<\/p>\n

No Secret That Red Wings Like Swedes<\/p>\n

A roster that already includes Lucas Raymond, Simon Edvinsson<\/a>, Albert Johansson<\/a>, Jonatan Berggren, and Erik Gustafsson, it\u2019s clear that the Red Wings are prone to collecting Swedes. Is it realistic that they might be adding Bj\u00f6rck to that collection come next June?<\/p>\n

Probably not.<\/p>\n

Depending upon which mock draft you check, anticipation is that Bjorck will be selected in the 3-6 range early in the first round. The Red Wings would really need to endure a terrible 2025-26 season to be in a position to draft Bj\u00f6rck.<\/p>\n

Still, it never hurts to look. Or to hope.<\/p>\n

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