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Mathias Brome is going through a difficult transition to the NHL.
The Swedish winger with the highest score has not scored any points in 13 games with the Detroit Red Wings. On Thursday, his inability to clear the area led to the game-winning goal with one minute left in a 3-2 loss to Nashville.
But coach Jeff Blashill remains optimistic about what the undrafted 26-year-old free agent can possibly bring.
“I like Mathias, he tries to do it right,” Blashill said.
“The NHL is tough. It’s hard to produce offense, it’s hard when you’re not tall or super fast. But I think he had chances, and with chances, I think he will eventually score. I understand he started the Swedish Hockey League the same way (way), where he played a number of games without scoring, and all of a sudden he made a bunch of them. We hope he starts to gain that trust. But I like him, he’s trying to do the right things and he’s playing hard.
Brome’s inability to get the puck out was not a fault in judgment.
“That puck caught up a bit on the yellow (base along the boards) when I looked at it again,” said Blashill. “I don’t know if it hit the snow or what. It was a bit unfortunate. Sure, you have to play that puck, but it’s not a reckless player at all.
The Red Wings (3-10-2) will play Nashville (6-8-0) again on Saturday (8 p.m., Fox Sports Detroit).
Rasmussen, Cholowski need time
Blashill explained why young players like Michael Rasmussen and Dennis Cholowski play Grand Rapids rather than gain more NHL experience with the Red Wings.
In Rasmussen’s case, the club want him to become more comfortable as a closed center in AHL.
“We feel like he can become a center that can silence the best players on the other team, like what Jordan Staal does – that’s a mouthful to ask – but if he can become that kind of model, that’s a huge asset, ”Blashill mentioned. “He’s not here yet in the NHL. The NHL is not a place to learn. You better learn in the American League.
“At the end of the day, you have to show that you are making us better. It is not enough to show: “I can come and play and help us lose”. This is not what we are looking for. We are looking for our young players to reach a level where they step in and help us win. When he’s ready to do that, he’ll show it.
Cholowski isn’t good enough defensively to replace one of the Red Wings’ top six defensemen.
The Red Wings both want to be dominant in the AHL.
“At some point, they have to turn the potential into reality,” Blashill said. “At some point you have to show what you have because at some point you stop talking about potential, you start saying, ‘What are you doing for me today? They both have to be high impact players in the AHL before we can really expect them to help us win here.
Givani Smith has shown positive signs with his physicality, forward hitting and offensive contribution (four points in eight games), but Blashill said it remains to be seen if he’s ready for the NHL full-time.
“I think he has the potential to be physical, tough around the net,” said Blashill. “He just needs to keep working on his game on the wall and his handling of the puck. He has to be a super simple, efficient player, put the pucks behind people, bring them to his teammates and go in front of the net. This is what will make him succeed. He has to find ways to be extremely reliable.
Injury Updates
Blashill has said Darren Helm (upper body injury) will not play on Saturday and likely will be on a daily basis. Luke Glendening (upper body) trained on Friday but his status for the game is uncertain.
Danny DeKeyser and Valtteri Filppula are healthy enough to play. Filppula, who has scored one point (one goal) in 11 games, has been crossed out the last four games. DeKeyser has served five games; Blashill described him as playing on one leg due to back surgery a year ago.
“Danny is available to play. Right now it’s the coach’s decision, ”said Blashill. “But it’s not like we have a 100% Danny DeKeyser. He is recovering from the operation.
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