Red Wings Goalie Finds New Home in Europe
Photo credit: Michael Caples/DHN photo
Former Detroit Red Wings prospect has taken his gear and is headed to Europe, as GM Steve Yzerman and the team weren't able to find room for him in the AHL.
Jan Bednar last played in the ECHL with the Detroit Red Wings' affiliate, the Toledo Walleye. Bednar is more concerned with staying fresh and further developing his hockey career has signed with the Assat Pori.
The 22-year-old will play for one year with the Pori, in the Finnish SM-Liiga, where he believes his development can continue rather than simmering in the ECHL.
«I'm at a point in my career where I need to take a step forward,» Bednar, 22, said on the club's website. «The series here is of a good standard and I believe I can develop further here.»
Bednar was a part of the successful Toledo Walleye club, which won a SCHL Kelly Cup Final. However, his signing is curious as he put up excellent numbers during the 2024-25 season, with a 23-8-6 record, 2.34 GAA, and a.914 save percentage.
Those numbers are deserving of another look in the AHL, not the kind that causes you to ship off to Finland.
Ironically, the former 107th selection in the 2020 NHL Draft would never agree to sign with the Detroit Red Wings. But he'd continue to sign contracts to stay in the AHL for the last two seasons.
He'd see only four games in the AHL before manning the pipes in the ECHL for the Walleye the majority of the year.
Bednar will share the crease in Assat Pori with goalie Filip Lindberg, and coach Jaakko Rosendahl believes he'll add an edge of competitiveness to the Pori roster.
«Playing for Assat is a great opportunity for me,» Bednar said. «I have heard nothing but great things about the city of Pori, the Assat organization and the fans.
«I am already looking forward to the start of the season.»
«I am already looking forward to the start of the season.»
Bednar's choice of a career move is most puzzling, but maybe he thinks he can draw attention from other NHL clubs by putting on a show of force in SM-Liiga.
Either way, the Red Wings have deepened the ranks in the crease with the signing of goalie Michal Postava.
| POLL | ||
JUIN 19 | 119 ANSWERS Red Wings Goalie Finds New Home in Europe Do you think goalie Jan Bednar, a former Detroit Red Wings prospect, will thrive in SM-Liiga with Assat Pori? | ||
| Yes | 83 | 69.7 % |
| No | 36 | 30.3 % |
| List of polls | ||
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