The Pittsburgh Penguins have traded for forward Elmer Söderblom from the Detroit Red Wings ahead of the NHL trade deadline. The deal sends a 2026 third-round draft pick, originally belonging to San Jose, to Detroit in exchange for the 24-year-old Swedish player. Söderblom joins a Penguins team contending in the Metropolitan Division amid injuries to key players.
The Pittsburgh Penguins bolstered their forward lines by acquiring Elmer Söderblom from the Detroit Red Wings on Friday, just before the NHL trade deadline at 3 p.m. ET. In return, Detroit received a 2026 third-round draft pick originally held by the San Jose Sharks, as announced by Penguins President of Hockey Operations and General Manager Kyle Dubas.
Söderblom, a 6-foot-8, 252-pound native of Gothenburg, Sweden, is signed through the 2026-27 season with an average annual value of $1.125 million. In 39 games this season with Detroit, he recorded two goals and one assist for three points. Over parts of three NHL seasons, all with the Red Wings, the 24-year-old has tallied 11 goals and 11 assists in 86 regular-season games. Prior to North America, Söderblom played for Frölunda in Sweden's SHL, amassing 24 goals and 14 assists in 90 games from 2019 to 2022. He was drafted by Detroit in the sixth round, 159th overall, in 2019 and represented Sweden at the 2021 World Junior Championship and the 2019 World Under-18 Championship, where he won gold.
The trade comes as the Penguins navigate challenges, including an injury to Sidney Crosby expected to sideline him for a minimum of four weeks and a pending hearing for Evgeni Malkin with the NHL Department of Player Safety following an incident involving an axe hit on Buffalo Sabres defenseman Rasmus Dahlin. Despite these absences, Dubas emphasized continuity, stating, “The mix has worked quite well. They've got some chemistry. Dan has done a great job coaching them.” The Penguins sit second in the Metropolitan Division with 75 points, nine behind the Carolina Hurricanes but with games in hand on the third-place New York Islanders.
Dubas highlighted Söderblom's fit as a young, controllable asset, noting his potential on the forecheck and the organization's development focus: “We want to be known as a place where players know the Penguins will get the most out of them.” This move aligns with earlier acquisitions like goaltender Stuart Skinner and defenseman Sam Girard, aiming to sustain contention without major disruptions.