The future team of Detroit Red Wings prospect Anton Johansson isn’t getting much love from the pundits. Then again, neither is Johansson’s current team.

The Red Wings aren’t given much chance of making the NHL playoffs in 2025-26. Meanwhile, in Sweden, the experts are projecting a last-place finish for Johansson’s Leksand club.

“We’ll see if they change their minds after a few rounds because I definitely don’t think we are (a basement-dwelling team),” Johansson told Swedish website Aftonbladet following Leksand’s 3-2 win over Timra as the SHL season got underway Saturday.

Anton Johansson(4th round’22)
GOAL🚨 #LGRW #leksandsif pic.twitter.com/2AyZub9GUV

— Red Wings Prospects (@LGRWProspects) September 13, 2025

It was Johansson’s goal that proved to be the game-winner for Leksand.

“It’s always fun to score goals,” Johansson said. “Then it’s mostly about the team winning.

“It’s fun to be able to help the team.”

Johansson also raised the ire of the Timra bench when he creased former NHL forward Anton Lander with a high stick. The infraction resulted in a two-minute sitdown in the sin bin for the player Detroit chose 105th overall in the 2022 NHL entry draft.

“We just take it as lighter fluid that people don’t believe in us,” Johansson said. “You read and hear. We are human. But it doesn’t upset us, quite the opposite.

“It’s us against the world, and I think we’re showing it.”

Former Red Wings forward Mattias Ritola is an assistant coach for Leksand.

Red Wings Pick Is Timra’s Best Player

Right-winger Eddie Genborg, made the 44th overall selection of the 2025 NHL entry draft by the Red Wings, was making his debut for Timra. He drew an assist on their first goal and high praise from his coach.

Eddie Genborg(2nd Round’25)
1 Assist 2SOG +1 16:17TOI 2Hits in a 3-2 Loss
•Physical, strong for an 18 against men
•Good along the boards
•Great net front presence but maybe to a fault. Needs to be an option in the o zone more.
•Probably should have scored #LGRW #Timrå
Clips pic.twitter.com/gcERToaXho

— Red Wings Prospects (@LGRWProspects) September 13, 2025

“He is our best player,” Timra coach Tommy Samuelsson told Swedish website Expressen of Genborg. “I think his maturity in the game is impressive.

Samuelsson also appreciates Genborg’s willingness to do the dirty work at the net front, in the corners, and along the boards.

“I understand that he is where it is difficult, but he has a good positional game and is responsive to taking in information,” Samuelsson said. “He is doing great.”

Strong Start For Snively

Center Joe Snively, who spent last season as a Detroit farmhand with the AHL Grand Rapids Griffins, drew a pair of assists as Djurgarden defeated Skelleftea 5-4.

Former Red Wings goalie Magnus Hellberg, who was also making his Djurgarden debut, got the win.