Welcome to the first edition of what we’ve been hearing, a recurring feature offering the latest news and rumors relating to the Detroit Red Wings.

Sweden Isn’t Sizing Up

With the 2026 Milano Cortina Winter Olympic Games looming, contending countries are seeing how they measure up against the competition. And in the opinion of Swedish pundits, their country isn’t sizing up.

“I may sound negative, but we lack size,” Swedish hockey legend Peter Forsberg told Swedish website Aftonbladet.

That could be big news for Red Wings defenseman Simon Edvinsson.

According to NHL sources, the Swedish Olympic braintrust is strongly considering the 6-foot-6, 222-pound Edvinsson for a place on the squad. He played for the Swedes at last year’s world championship.

Edvinsson plays a big game. He’s a surly competitor, and he’s also tied for fifth in the NHL with 46 blocked shots.

Forsberg figures the Swedes will need players like Edvinsson if they want to challenge Canada and the USA for the gold medal.

“If you look at the Stanley Cup in recent years, there are many well-built players who dominate,” Forsberg said. “If you are going to win the quarterfinals, semifinals, and a final, it is perhaps better to have big players and get everything to work together.”

Red Wings Gustafsson Going Home?

Currently with the AHL Grand Rapids Griffins, defenseman Erik Gustafsson is in the final year of his two-year pact with the Red Wings. He’ll be looking for work at season’s end, and that may involve a homecoming for the Swede.

There are reports in the Swedish media that Djurgården of the SHL is going to make a big push to sign Gustafsson next summer. He worked out with the club in training camp last summer. At the time, Gustafsson didn’t rule out the possibility of returning to Djurgården.

Gustafsson previously played for Djurgården from 2009 to 2013.

Witkowski Lands A Job

Still with Sweden, former Red Wings defenseman Luke Witkowski has found work in the SHL. He signed with Brynas. Last season, Witkowski played in Skelleftea alongside Detroit defenseman Axel Sandin Pellikka and Griffins forward Michael Brandsegg-Nygard.

Luke Witkowski(4) waits a minute before returning to @SHLse hockey, signing with rivals @Brynas for 2025/2026 https://t.co/dS7Kfe3nh1 the former senior captain @WMUHockey will continue to do well pic.twitter.com/NhZtfjL1DO

— collegehockeyplayers (@collegehockeypp) November 17, 2025

Brynas now has three ex-Red Wings rearguards. The club signed Robert Hagg and Gustav Lindstrom in the offseason.

Vrana In Hot Water Again

Trouble and Jakub Vrana seem to be attracted to each other. The former Red Wings forward has already been benched and has been a healthy scratch this season with his new club, Linköping.

There were reports that he’s feuding with the coaching staff, and Vrana even had to admit that he attempted to broker a trade to Brynas.

Kozlov Gets A Promotion

Former Red Wings Russian Five star Vyacheslav Kozlov was supposed to coach Sochi of the KHL this season. Instead, he was fired before working a single game. But now he has a head coaching gig.

After 4+ seasons, Dynamo parted ways with head coach Alexei Kudashov.

Since 2021-22, Dynamo clinched playoffs four times, twice reaching the second round and once advancing to the semifinals (last season). pic.twitter.com/lWX2TkWKwy

— KHL (@khl_eng) November 17, 2025

On Monday, former NHLer Alexei Kudashov was fired as coach of Moscow Dynamo. Kozlov, who was serving as an assistant coach with the team, is now in charge. The club was promoting him to interim head coach.

Sulak A Record Setter

Libor Sulak was briefly a Red Wings defenseman, playing six games in 2018-19. He’s proving to be a much bigger success story in the KHL.

Sulak recently became the all-time scoring leader for Admiral Vladivostok. Sulak has accumulated 128 points in 235 games with the club.