Elmer Söderblom played the best hockey of his young career in the latter stages of last season, one of the few Red Wings who raised his game down the stretch.
He's been rewarded with a two-year, $2.25 million contract. Söderblom, the last of Detroit's unsigned restricted free agents, inked the deal Wednesday.
A 6'8 forward who's come a long way since being drafted in the sixth-round in 2019, Söderblom scored four goals and 11 points in 26 games with the Wings last season, earning more ice time in March and April. His size and improved skating made him an effective fore-checker. He also has some skill to make plays, which earned him a look at one point on Detroit's top line.
It was a modest but important step forward for a player who spent all of the season prior in Grand Rapids after debuting with the Red Wings in 2022-23. When he finally got another look last season following the team's coaching change from Derek Lalonde to Todd McLellan, Söderblom didn't disappoint.
"It feels like my confidence got better and better during my time here," he said at the end of the season. "I’m looking forward to next season to prove even more."
Söderblom missed the final three games of the season with an injury, but will be good to go for training camp.
"I want to keep working on every detail," he said. "It takes a lot of small details to play in this league. Be physical and use my size to my advantage, and keep playing my game."
Söderblom, who turns 25 this month, joins Albert Johansson and Jonatan Berggren as Detroit's restricted free agents staying put.
Johansson, a 24-year-old defenseman, got the same contract as Söderblom. Berggren, a forward who also turns 25 this month, got a one-year deal worth $1.825 million.