“This feels better and better,” Soderblom said. “The confidence just goes up.” For Soderblom to succeed at the highest level, McLellan said the young forward must learn how to use his 6-foot-8, 246-pound frame to his advantage consistently.

It took a while, but Elmer Soderblom is finally back in the NHL. The Red Wings today recalled the 6-8 left wing from the Grand Rapids Griffins. He’ll be available for tonight’s game in Philadelphia that wraps up a four-game trip (7 p.m., FanDuel Sports Network).

The Detroit Red Wings are one of the most improved teams in the NHL as the second half of the regular season begins. The team had a dismal start to the year and on the express route to another year of missing the postseason,

PHILADELPHIA — Elmer Söderblom's phone rang just as he was about to leave, and the name that popped up demanded answering the call. It was Detroit Red Wings general manager Steve Yzerman, the man who presided over the draft when Söderblom became a part of the organization.