Detroit Red Wings Notes And Quotes 8-29-11
--The Wings have signed forward Fabian Brunnstrom to a tryout contract. Brunnstrom would have to beat out somebody in training camp or the preseason to earn a contract, unless the team suffers a long-term injury before the season.
Detroit was one of three teams that pursued the much-hyped, late-blooming, undrafted Swedish forward in 2008, but he opted to sign with Dallas. The 26-year-old became just the third player in NHL history to notch a hat trick in his debut and tallied 17 goals, 12 assists and a minus-8 rating in 55 games as a rookie in 2008-09.
But he had just two goals and nine assists in 44 games the following season and had trouble adjusting to NHL hockey and was traded to Toronto.
--Former Wings defenseman Chris Chelios was selected for induction into the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame on Aug.1. Chelios, 49, played 26 seasons in the NHL, with Montreal, Chicago, Detroit and, briefly at the end of his career, Atlanta. He retired followed the 2009-10 season as the all-time leader in games played by a defenseman with 1,651. He is regarded by many as the greatest American-born player in NHL history. He is certain to be elected to the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2013, his first year of eligibility.
--The Wings renewed their affiliation agreement with the Toledo Walleye of the ECHL through the 2011-12 season. Toledo has served as the Wings' AA-level affiliate since the Walleye's inaugural 2009-10 campaign. The Grand Rapids Griffins of the American Hockey League are the Red Wings' primary minor-league affiliate. Their agreement is set to expire after this season, but both sides have indicated that the relationship will continue in the future.
QUOTE TO NOTE
"Things just haven't gone the way he wanted to. He actually approached us and said he'd like another opportunity. He knows now what it takes to be a pro after it probably caught him a little off guard being a younger guy from Sweden." -- Wings assistant general manager Jim Nill, on forward Fabian Brunnstrom, who'll be in camp on a tryout.
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