Could This be Last Chance For Red Wings Prospect?

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Charlie Forslund

The Detroit Red Wings first saw Charlie Forslund in action playing for Falun in HockeyEttan, the Swedish third division.

A few months later, when they selected the Swedish forward in the sixth round of the NHL Entry Draft, they knew it was a reach. But it was a gamble they were willing to take.

“Playing against those men at a lower level, Charlie stood out,” Red Wings assistant GM Kris Draper said. “He’s got good size, he can skate, he can really move and shoot the puck. He had a couple of goals that game.

“Obviously, we did a lot of background checks and gathered information on him. You start thinking this could be something that could be potentially really good for us down the road.”

Red Wings Took a Chance With Forslund

To date, the gamble isn’t paying off. And time is running out on Forslund’s opportunity to turn some heads.

His last chance to impress may be coming next season. Forslund has signed with Brynas of the SHL, Sweden’s top division.

Two years since being chosen 176th overall by the Red Wings, Forslund has yet to play a single shift in the SHL.

“My hope was that I would get into HockeyAllsvenskan straight away,” Forslund told Hockey Sverige. “Then I didn’t have a great first season, and it was quite a difficult transition for me.

“I also think that there was a big difference between playing in HockeyEttan and J20 – and senior hockey suits me much better.

“I guess I came from nowhere, but I just think it’s fun. A confirmation that I did something good.

“I’m incredibly proud to be here now, and I see it as a confirmation that it can be good even if you don’t take the same path as everyone else into professional life.”