Axel Holmström

June 2019 – Holmström did not get a qualifying offer from the Red Wings which means he becomes an unrestricted free agent.  Jokke Nevalainen

May 2019 – Holmstrom has signed a contract to play the next two years for  HV71 of the Swedish Elite league. Holmstrom played a bottom six role for the Grand Rapids Griffins last season, managing 25 points in 65 games. Mark Hillier

January 2018 – As one of the younger Red Wings prospects playing for the Griffins, Holmstrom is having a good start to his first full season in the AHL. Holmstrom has shown that he’s not afraid to go to the tough areas of the ice, either in the corners or the front of the net. Don’t make the mistake of thinking he’s just a mucker and grinder though, Holmstrom has great puck skills and excellent hockey sense. In a recent game on January 10th, Holmstrom scored twice and added as assist in a 5-1 win over the Manitoba Moose. Holmstrom’s skating is a work in progress. The Red Wings, as they do, will allow him to percolate a while longer in the minors before bringing him up. Holmstrom projects as a third line NHL player who has the potential to work his way higher into the lineup. Mark Hillier

July 2017 – In the 2015-2016 season, the plan was for Axel Holmstrom to come over to North America and play in the AHL but after his knee injury both sides decided another year in Sweden was for the best. Fast forward to last season which was definitely disappointing for the Swede as he missed a significant amount of time due to injuries. The positive for the Red Wings is that Holmstrom came over in April of this year where he played 11 games (7 regular season, four playoff) with the Grand Rapids Griffins. He often draws comparisons to former Detroit Red Wing Tomas Holmstrom and not just because of their last names. Like Tomas, Axel plays a simple but smart style that relies on creating offence from below the goal line in the offensive zone. He isn’t afraid to go to the dirty, greasy areas and battle for the puck. He has soft hands in traffic and has strong hockey sense around the net. His quickness has room for improvement but he will have time to work on his skating with Grand Rapids before realistically challenging for a spot on the big club. After a statistically disappointing, injury plagued season, Holmstrom will likely be given every opportunity to play in the Griffins’ top six this season. He has the potential to be a top nine forward for the Red Wings in the future but is still a couple seasons away from earning a spot in Detroit. Jameson Ewasiuk

December 2015- Axel Holmstrom will be looking to lead team Sweden back to the podium in the upcoming 2016 WJHC where he returns as one of their leading scorers from a year ago. Holmstrom has already been labeled a steal after Detroit nabbed him in the seventh round and we will be looking to continue to prove that true as he battles to put his country back on the world map as a perennial hockey power house. The Arvidsjaur native is currently tied atop the scoring charts in the SHL for junior aged players with 3G-13A-16PTS to date as he continues to impress. He’s likely to make the trek across the pond in the next one-two years where he will surely continue his journey toward the NHL, but first with a stop in the AHL in typical Red Wings fashion. Travis Watson

September 2015- Some of you may be wondering why you haven’t heard much buzz around the name Axel Holmstrom throughout the summer and into training camp. That’s because this 2014 sleepers season has already begun with one goal and two assists through his first six games to date. Coming off a blistering finish to end the 2015 season as the leading scorer in the playoffs this young Swede is looking to carry that momentum into the 2015-16 season. With any young player you want to look for consistency in their game and that’s exactly what the Red Wings brass and Holmstrom himself will be pushing for in 2016. Holmstrom will also be returning to the 2016 WJHC in a lead role for Sweden after he unveiled himself to the hockey world at last years tournament. Team Sweden will be looking to avenge their disappointing 2015 finish, this time on Scandinavian soil with Holmstrom at the forefront of their attack. Travis Watson

June 2015- The Red Wings have signed their 2014 seventh round selection, Axel Holmstrom, to a three-year entry-level deal. He’s done nothing but improve his stock ever since being selected 196th overall. From leading to Sweden at the World Juniors, Breaking a record set by the Sedin Twin’s for playoff scoring and being named the Swedish Junior Hockey Player of the Year to cap it off. The Wings like to marinate their prospects so it’s expected that Holmstrom will be lacing it up for Skelleftea AIK come the fall. Keep an eye on this prospect as he is trending upward fast and has the work ethic to match it. Travis Watson

February 2015- Some say lightning never strikes the same place twice, the Red Wings say, “you’re right it keeps on striking”. For Detroit that continuous strike is pumping out late round draft steals year-after-year. Axel Holmstrom is another example of the Red Wings European scouts coming up big willing to take a chance on a player who has been knocked for his foot speed, but for what he lacks there he makes up for with his playmaking ability and scoring touch. Holmstrom was a standout for Sweden at the 2015 World Junior Hockey Championships where his skill was on full display. He was amongst the tournament top scorers and in 2016 with Sweden looking to return to glory he will be leaned on heavily when the tournament heads to Finland. The Wings as you know by now are very patient with their prospects and they will be happy to let Holmstrom develop overseas another year, especially since he plays for Skelleftea AIK, a top team in the Swedish Elite League. Skelleftea is lead by a very balanced attack with Axel sitting 9th in team scoring (10G-10A-20PTS through 42 games played). Holmstrom was drafted as a project and it looks like that project just keeps getting better with time. Travis Watson