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Johansson is adapting his game to the NHL

Johansson is adapting his game to the NHL

“I wanted to make the team this season and play here,” Johansson said on Wednesday. “Every game I get to play, I try to take advantage of the opportunity and play as well as I can.”

Selected 60th by the Red Wings in the 2019 NHL Entry Draft, Johansson scored 36 points (11 goals, 25 assists) in 119 games with the Grand Rapids Griffins of the American Hockey League from 2021-23.

“There are a lot of good players here,” Johansson said of the NHL. “It’s a fast league and the guys out there are strong. I try to work hard every day to get better.”

Johansson has impressed Lalonde with his high hockey IQ, which has helped the young Swede thrive as a 6-foot-1, 185-pound blueliner.

“I was obviously worried about playing against the size, but that wasn’t a problem,” Lalonde said. “He is very competitive. As a smaller (defender), you defend with position, with your hands, and that’s what he did. He’s had a couple of those matchups down low where you’re a little worried because you think you’re in trouble, maybe at a little positioning disadvantage because of his size, and he fights through it. He’s adapting to the league pretty well.”

Jeff Petry also said that Johansson’s skating skills stood out.

“As you get into these situations and gain these experiences, you will continue to experience growth,” Petry said. “He’s a good skater. When he’s in the game, he uses his skating skills to finish plays, move the puck up the ice and step in as the fourth man.”

Johansson tries his best to be a sponge when he’s around his fellow Red Wings defensemen.

“All the defenders here are so good,” Johansson said. “I just try to absorb and learn from them as much as I can. So far, so good.”

And as he continues to develop his game, Johansson understands what he needs to do to continue his upward trajectory.

“Move the puck, move my feet and play well defensively,” Johansson said. “That’s my mindset and that’s what I really try to focus on during the games.”