Canucks Sign Swedish Blomstrand, Recall Schroeder and Ballard

In Chicago, the Vancouver Canucks continue to throw young prospects to the Chicago Wolves – Vancouver’s American Hockey League farm team. The newest member to join the pack is Swedish forward, Ludwig Blomstrand.

Standing at 6″1 and weighing in at 198 pounds, 20-year-old Blomstrand ranked third in goals this season playing 44 games in Sweden’s Allsevenkan league with thirteen goals and six assists.

Blomstrand watched Monday’s game at Rogers Arena after being signed by the Canucks.

Laurence Gilman, assistant general manager who scouted Blomstrand during the recent NHL lockout said, “he is a big strong winger who has got exceptional skating ability. In fact, he may be the best pure skater we have in our prospects pool. And he has very good puck skills.”

Blomstrand is from Uppsala, Sweden, and was originally selected by Vancouver in the fourth round, 120th overall, in the 2011 NHL draft.

With Blomstrand joining the Wolves, center Jordan Schroeder is being recalled. He has two goals, three assists in 22 games with Vancouver this season and ten goals, thirteen assists in 33 games with the Wolves.

Also back in the lineup after sitting out three games is defenseman Keith Ballard. To stay in the lineup Ballard said he knows what he must do.

“Skate, move the puck, compete hard, play good in my own end,” Ballard said. “It’s pretty basic. You go through the lineup and it’s the same thing, everybody who moves their feet is a better player, everybody who moves the puck quick is a better player. It’s simple, it’s basic, but that’s what I try to do and I think I have done that for the most part this season.

“I’m not sitting here searching for my game and wondering where it went. I am pretty comfortable with how I have been playing for the majority of the season.”