Red Wings UDFA Mathias Brome Determined to Make Strong First Impression Once Training Camp Opens

After months of waiting, the NHL and NHLPA have finally announced a return to play plan for the 2020-21 campaign, which will be shortened to 56 games and will open on Jan. 13. Since the Detroit Red Wings didn’t qualify for last season’s postseason, they’ll be one of the seven teams allowed to open training camp on Dec. 31.

In preparation for the upcoming season, players who’ve spent the last couple of months overseas have been returning to North America over the last several weeks. For one player in particular, this will be Mathias Brome’s first chance to suit up for Detroit, as he signed as an undrafted free agent out of Europe back in April and has spent his entire career in Sweden.

With the COVID-19 pandemic delaying the NHL’s season, the Red Wings loaned Brome to Orebro HK of the SHL – Sweden’s top professional league – but the club announced over the weekend that he’s been recalled and will need to report to North America.

Over the last few years, Brome has been dreaming of one day receiving a chance to participate at the highest level of competition and making a name for himself in the NHL. While leaving his home country wasn’t an easy decision to make, it’s one that has him motivated to prove he deserves to play with some of the best players in the entire world.

“It’s clear that it’s emotional to leave Orebro, where I enjoyed myself very much, but at the same time, this is what I’ve been looking forward to all the time since I signed my contract,” Brome discussed to Mattias Persson of HockeyNews.se. “I’m expectant and very charged to go over.”

At the time of his signing, Brome was fully expecting to travel over to North America and compete for a job with the Red Wings this fall. But with the pandemic throwing a wrench into his plan, the 26-year old was forced to put his future interests on the back burner and solely focus on his current situation, which certainly wasn’t an easy task to accomplish.

“I’ve grown very much mentally over having to disconnect [the delay],” Brome explained. “Living in the present and not having to think about the NHL, or so on, has probably been the most difficult, but there I think I have succeeded well. I’m very happy about how I’ve played in Orebro, and I can take it with me now when I go over.”

Over 23 games with Orebro HK this season, Brome has produced four goals, 20 points, 0.17 goals per game, 0.87 points per game, and has committed a pair of penalties as well.

As for his 2019-20 campaign, the left-hander appeared in 52 games, finishing tied with the fourth-most goals (17) and the sixth-most points (43) among all qualified skaters in the SHL, according to EliteProspects.com. Additionally, the 6-foot winger also averaged 0.33 goals per game and 0.83 points per game.

Regardless of what happens during training camp, Brome is planning to remain in North America for an extended period of time and is willing to work his way up through the AHL if necessary. That being said, the impending restricted free agent is aiming to work his tail off to prove he belongs in Detroit and he’s hopeful that’ll ultimately result in a second NHL contract in the near future.

“It’s very difficult to answer a question like that,” Brome mentioned. “But I will do everything in my power to show that I really should have a jersey. I will really give up everything I can to experience my dream. That’s probably what I can say.”