Ex-Red Wings enforcer joins team’s top prospects in Sweden

Detroit Red Wings prospects Axel Sandin Pellikka and Michael Brandsegg-Nygard probably don’t need much protection in the Swedish Hockey League, but they got it just in case.

Former Red Wings enforcer Luke Witkowski has signed to play the remainder of the season for Skelleftea AIK, the club that’s developing two of Detroit’s recent first-round picks.

Witkowski, a native of Holland, Mich., who played at Western Michigan from 2009-2013, appeared in 66 games with the Red Wings over parts of three seasons, picking up one goal, five assists and 91 penalty minutes. He played 44 games with the Grand Rapids Griffins in 2021-22 (three goals, four assists, 62 penalty minutes).

“I do everything to help the team, whether it’s blocking shots or standing up for my teammates,” Witkowski, 34, said on Skelleftea’s Web site. “I let my game do the talking and that has gotten me roles like that, even though I’m not the one who talks the most in the dressing room.”

Witkowski played for Tappara Tampere of SM-liiga last season (51 games, no goals, six assists, 88 penalty minutes), winning the Finnish League championship.

He reached out to Red Wings forward Jonatan Berggren, who developed in Skelleftea’s system.

“I contacted Jonatan when it became relevant that I would come to Skelleftea and he only had good things to say about both the association and the city,” Witkowski said. “In addition, I have received a bunch of nice hunting pictures sent to me from Pierre Johnsson, which suits me perfectly. I’m an outdoors person and there seems to be a lot to explore in the surroundings.”

Struggling Red Wings Shuffle Lines Seeking Balance

After a futile California swing, there could be no denying that the Detroit Red Wings (7-9-2) were due for a shuffling of the lines.  The lineup had been something of a moving target during the 0-2-1 tour of the Golden State, with no shortage of mixing and matching from a desperate side seeking something positive to hang onto.  On Wednesday afternoon, Red Wings practice from the Belfor Training Center in the bowels of Little Caesars Arena offered the first glimpse of what coach Derek Lalonde believes to be the lineup that might pull Detroit out of the doldrums that threaten to derail the season before Thanksgiving: