The Nilsson brothers were briefly reunited in Sweden, and Red Wings picked them.
Prospect Noah Dower Nilsson of the Detroit Red Wings missed the first part of the 2023–24 hockey season while healing from shoulder surgery. Then he was suiting up with Frolunda of the SHL again in late November. But he was mostly only used infrequently.
It appeared that he would have greater playing time and the chance to reunite with his brother, fellow Detroit draft pick Liam Dower Nilsson. Bjorkloven was borrowing Dower Nilsson from Frolunda.
The rest of the season was to be covered by the loan. Sweden’s second level, Hockey Allsvenskan, is home to Bjorkloven. In the event that Dower Nilsson is required once more in the SHL this season, Frolunda may choose to recall him. After his injuries healed, he has contributed 1-1-2 totals to Frolunda’s games.
This week, Noah made his debut in a game with Bjorkloven. Sadly, things didn’t work out well for him. He was having another shoulder surgery when he fell through the boards, and it looked like it was to the shoulder that wasn’t operated on. He went back to Frolunda to be examined more closely. 20-year-old sibling Liam is displaying 10-8-18 stats from 36 games for Bjorkloven, similar to Noah’s previous Frolunda stats.
Liam explained his decision to move down to Division II this season, saying, “I feel like I have a more offensive mindset and game to show.” In the 2023 NHL entry draft, Detroit selected Dower Nilsson, who is eighteen years old, with the 73rd overall pick. The siblings were teammates for brief periods of time in the past.
Team Red Wings Reunites
Liam said, “We played a few games together in juniors, and the last season we played, I was loaned to Vasteras for Noah’s first SHL game, but I got loaned back to Frolunda.”
On a line alongside Liam, Noah worked his first SHL shift. Noah remembered, “It was pretty cool.” “Having fun outdoors is a plus. Although a little unsettling, it was enjoyable. The Red Wings selected Liam Dower Nilsson 134th overall in the 2021 NHL entry draft. The summer before last, when Detroit would also choose his brother, he was in Nashville.
Liam remarked, “It was unbelievable” regarding draft day. “Never really dared to imagine that would occur. For me, my dad, my grandfather, and Noah, it was an incredible feeling.
The Red Wings have not signed a deal with any of the Dower Nilsson brothers.