Red Wings Sign Noah Dower-Nilsson

The Detroit Red Wings have signed prospect forward Noah Dower-Nilsson to a three-year entry-level contract, according to a team announcement. The deal is set to begin in the 2026-27 season.

Dower-Nilsson has spent the last two years playing for the senior team of Frölunda HC in the SHL. Frölunda fell to Luleå in six games in this year’s SHL quarterfinals, ending Dower-Nilsson’s season.

The Red Wings’ press release announcing the signing did not contain any language indicating Dower-Nilsson has signed any sort of tryout agreement to spend the rest of 2025-26 in the AHL with the playoff-bound Grand Rapids Griffins. Unless something changes, that would indicate the 20-year-old is likely to cross the Atlantic and make his North American debut later this year, rather than on a more immediate basis.

As previously mentioned, this season was Dower-Nilsson’s second as a full-time player in the pro ranks. He played in 35 games for Frölunda last season, scoring 10 points while averaging 10:49 time on ice per game. This season, Dower-Nilsson saw his ice time rise to 12:20 per game, and his production rose with it. He scored six goals and 16 points this season, and added four points in six games in the quarterfinal series loss to Luleå.

Although Dower-Nilsson was not ranked among the top 24 prospects in the Red Wings’ system by Elite Prospects entering the season, it appears he has taken a real step forward in his game. The outlet’s Swedish scout Jimmy Hamrin wrote in an early-season game report that “it looks like [Dower-Nilsson] has taken his game another step ahead.” Hamrin assigned Dower-Nilsson a middle-six NHL projection.

Before he can reach that point, though, he’ll likely need to begin by developing in Grand Rapids. The Red Wings have an extensive track record of success developing European prospects at the AHL level, and they will hope to continue that track record with Dower-Nilsson.