The Detroit Red Wings know a thing or two about having some great Swedish players don the Winged Wheel. Naturally, they added to their rich Swedish heritage with their first two selections in the 2020 NHL Draft, taking Swedes Lucas Raymond and William Wallinder with the 4th and 32nd overall picks, respectively.
After it was announced that Wallinder was the newest addition to the Red Wings family this morning, he immediately spoke via virtual format regarding his new NHL future home – and to nobody’s surprise, a legendary Red Wings defenseman came up in conversation: Nicklas Lidstrom.
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“I know about them, I watched them when I was younger,” Wallinder said. “Everyone knows who Lidstrom is; he’s the best Swedish defenseman who ever played.”
He had been projected by many to be a first-round selection, but wasn’t upset when his name wasn’t called on Tuesday night.
“Of course I was nervous,” Wallinder said. “But I was not too upset. I know it doesn’t matter if you go in the first or second rounds. There’s a lot of good players, and the only thing that matters is what you do after the draft. You still keep working hard and going for it. You can’t stop working because you didn’t go in the first round.
So it really doesn’t matter (where you are drafted); it just feels good to be a player for the Detroit Red Wings…I talked to them (a lot), I could see it coming, and it feels good.
– – Quotes via Ted Kulfan of The Detroit News Link – –
