Happy to re-sign two-year deal with Detroit, Soderblom confident offseason work will pay off

DETROIT -- Elmer Soderblom quickly grabbed his opportunity when the Detroit Red Wings recalled him from the American Hockey League’s Grand Rapids Griffins in late January of the 2024-25 season.

And now, after re-signing a two-year contract extension with the Red Wings on July 2, the 24-year-old forward is even more determined to continue the upward trajectory of his overall game.

“It was a super fun season and I’m super excited,” Soderblom told DetroitRedWings.com last Thursday. “It was really fun to get that [contract] done. Right now, I’m just looking forward to two more years, just to keep improving, developing and showing what I can do.”

Soderblom has appeared in 47 games --- 26 in 2024-25 and 21 in 2022-23 -- across his NHL career with the Red Wings, totaling 19 points (nine goals, 10 assists) and a plus-two rating. And because he missed Detroit’s final five games of last season due to an undisclosed injury, but did return to play in three Calder Cup Playoff contests with the Griffins, Soderblom has been really putting in the offseason work to prepare himself for the campaign ahead.

“It’s all about keeping that momentum going and doing all of the little things right,” the Red Wings’ former sixth-round pick (No. 159 overall) in the 2019 NHL Entry Draft said.

Soderblom has spent his last three summers training with other NHL players in his hometown of Gothenburg, Sweden. This summer, the 6-foot-8, 246-pound forward is skating three to four days a week, focusing on all the small details he knows go into achieving success at the game’s highest level.

“We have a schedule and training group,” Soderblom explained. “I usually start in the gym at 9 o’clock, and we have different workouts each day. For example, we have a little bit more conditioning at the end on Fridays, so that’s tougher. We always finish hard on Fridays. The on-ice sessions usually depend on where we have the opportunity, so it can vary. But in August, since the season is coming up, we try to ramp it up.”

Soderblom said his training is largely based on the feedback he received during his most recent exit interviews with the Red Wings.

“They want me to keep improving on things like my skating and explosiveness,” he said. “Keep using my size to my advantage, be physical around the net, get to pucks. I’ve been working on a lot of that on the ice, but also off the ice I’ve been getting stronger with my body and working on getting faster. It’s been good to have a goal to train towards. It feels like I’m getting closer and closer to a better me.”

Of course, the Swedish forward also knows the value of incorporating some time away from the rink and the gym.

“That’s important too, just take some time off and enjoy it all,” Soderblom said. “Enjoy the summer with friends and family. For me, it’s been a lot of golf and hanging out with my siblings.”

Cognizant that he still needs to earn his spot on Detroit’s 2025-26 Opening Night roster, Soderblom shared his excitement for the fall and hopefully, to play meaningful games down the stretch next spring.

“It’s going to be really good to have [head coach] Todd [McLellan] there on Day 1 of camp,” Soderblom said. “Then, just keep going the whole season. Hopefully, we can just win enough games to make the playoffs. That’s the goal everyone wants to go for.”