Former Red Wings Draftee Takes Long Way Back to An NHL Team

Filip Larsson never lived up to his status as the Detroit Red Wings’ goalie of the future. But at 25, the Swedish netminder will receive a second chance at an NHL career with the Pittsburgh Penguins organization.

Larsson earned this opportunity with impressive play in the Swedish Hockey League this season. H was tied for first with a .920 save percentage (minimum 20 or more appearances). He was second with a 1.93 goals-against average. Those numbers earned him a spot on the Swedish national team for the upcoming World Championships in Czechia.

A 2016 sixth round pick, Larsson got the Red Wings excited by performing at a high level for Tri-City in the United States Hockey League (1.46 GAA, .942 save percentage) in 2017-18. After he followed that up with a strong freshman college season at Denver (1.95, .932), the Red Wings signed him. They considered him a top goalie prospect.

Long Way Back to North America

His first pro season didn’t go as well. In 10 appearances for Grand Rapids, Larsson was 2-5-0 with 4.01 GAA and .843 save percentage.  Sent to Toledo in the ECHL, Larsson was 4-6 with a 2.72 GAA and .910 save percentage.  The next season  Red Wings loaned Larsson to Almtuna IS of Hockey Allsvenskan, Sweden’s second division. Larsson was injured there. Then, his Swedish team loaned him to a team in Denmark.

Larsson then played in Sweden’s second division for two seasons before getting a chance to play regularly this season in the SHL.

His perseverance and free agent status didn’t go unnoticed by NHL teams this season.

Tristan Jarry is the team’s No. 1 goalie, based on the reality that he is under contract four more seasons at $5.375 million per season. Former Red Wings player Alex Nedeljkovic, who took over Pittsburgh’s starting job late in the season, will be an unrestricted free agent. The Penguins seem to be leaning toward not trying to re-sign him. That leaves a competition for the No. 2 and No. 3 jobs in the organization.

Joel Blomquist played well in the regular-season, but not as well in the postseason. If he falters, then the door could open for  Larsson to get an NHL chance. Even if Blomquist succeeds, Larsson is set up nicely to play games for Wilkes-Barre. That means he’s just one injury or two away from the NHL.

Larsson is not far removed from being a goalie that NHL scouts thought could have an impact. At 25, he’s not over the hill.