[11:16 PM] Is the sky not falling anymore?!?! -- I just read over at Snapshots a different translation of the article than I'd seen, one that maybe.. makes things a little bit better? The translation over there leaves in this pretty important blurb:

"Dick has asked if he could train with us the next week and we have said yes, "says Färjestads sports manager Thomas Rundqvist to the club's website.

Axelsson has left for Karlstad and will train with the club during its training camp over the Christmas and national holidays. However, it is not clear whether he will play for the club when Elitserien kicks off again.

But if he will, Dick must first have his agent make it clear to Detroit, says Rundqvist.

So it sounds like.. he just wants to practice with the team for a few weeks? Seems strange that he just wants to take a break, but obviously considering some of the things said about him today, it's going to make a lot of fans a lot happier if he is truly willing to stick with Grand Rapids. Sounds like he might be trying to sneak his way out, but who knows... maybe he's homesick, and he's just fixing the problem by getting an early start on Christmas break? We'll see.

Original Post:
The great news just keeps on coming. Maybe not all of you will care about this, but anyone who follows prospects is likely not going to like this.

Via HFBoards, I've just learned that Dick Axelsson has left Grand Rapids and bolted back to Sweden.

Detroit player Dick Axelsson, 22, will practice with Färjestad BK the coming week.
After 17 games with Grand Rapids Griffins of the AHL Axelsson had enough and left the U.S. on Saturday.
- Dick has asked if he could practice with us during next week and we have said yes, but anything beyond that Dick and his agent has to clear things up with Detroit, says Färjestads sporting director Thomas Rundqvist

Axelsson left Färjestad after SM-gold in the spring for the Detroit Red Wings, who he already had a signed contract with.
He found himself not really comfortable in the AHL-team Grand Rapids Griffins, where he landed.
After 17 games (2 +3) Axelsson chose to return home to Sweden and contacted Färjestad himself.

- "If it were possible to solve the situation with Detroit, we of course welcome him. We follow the developments closely and hope for a positive decision" says Rundqvist emphasizing again that before the situation is solved between Axelsson and Detroit, no transfer can be done or started.

Axelsson will be on Färjestads training camp this week, starting on Tuesday morning.

Hat Trick Dick's been unhappy in Grand Rapids and has dropped a few hints to the Swedish media, so it's not a total surprise. Axelsson has been a healthy scratch a few times in the past few games, for the likes of Paul Crosty, Grand Rapids' goon, who also plays defense. He started the season on the top line and has a goal in his first game, but has only had one goal in four points since then. As I mentioned in my previous post, I watched two Grand Rapids games. In one, he looked completely checked out. In the other, he was a healthy scratch.

Not sure if this has anything to do with Michael Nylander coming back, but as I wrote in that post, that likely means more press box for Axelsson.

A lot of people got on Johan Ryno's case for leaving Grand Rapids and then refusing to report last season. But just hear me out. Axelsson was a second line winger in the SEL and had a great season last year. After being kicked off one team for poor training (despite being productive), he produced even more with Farjestad and won the SEL title.

Then he comes over to Grand Rapids, a new city in a new country, with frankly, not a whole lot to do around it (I'm a spoiled east-sider) with Grand Rapids' inconsistent crowds, and gradually starts to get benched in favor of a goon. Sure, he's slumping. But I've been very disappointed lately with Curt Fraser's patience with him, as in every game I've seen Axelsson has done some wonderful things. He is among the most talented on the team, and he was at his best this season when he was with Michael Nylander.

These were Dick's comments to the Swedish media from Mid-November, courtesty of Snapshots:

Last winter Farjestads hit the mark in acquiring  him from Djurgården in the middle of the season and he became a gold hero in the playoffs.
But today, Dick Axelsson, 22, not having quite as much fun at the hockey rink.
"Right now, I'm just sinking my teeth in/biting the bullet, but it is definitely an option to move home to Farjestad, if they have room for me," he says.

Detroit sent the Stockholm native to the farm team Grand Rapids Griffins, and Dick has now played 13 games. He has two goals and three assists. "It started well after that, it has become miserable. My game does not work [here] at all, "says Dick.
It appears that he simply can't find motivation in this environment ...
"We don't have many people at home games.  Around 1,000 on weekdays.  There are a bit more for the weekend games,

How do you like it?
"Well, everything is not exactly fun here.
"If you could choose, would you return to [Farjestads BK] immediately?
"It's not impossible. But right now it just feels like there's a war on and I will see what happens in the future."
Have you or your agent been in contact with FBK?
No, not in this situation."
Would it benefit your development to return to the Eliteserien?
"Game-wise, it would probably be better, but Detroit wants to me to adapt to the smaller rinks here," replies Dick.

And here are Jim Nill's responses to those comments:

-"We have talked to Dick and we want him to stay in Grand Rapids, "said Jim Nill, assistant general manager Detroit Red Wings to Sportbladet.
Dick Axelsson has repeated on several occasions that he thinks it is difficult in the farm league in North America and was open to a comeback in Farjestad, where he became Swedish [Eliteserien] champion this past summer.

Last night Sportbladet had a chat with Jim Nill, assistant general manager for the Detroit Red Wings.
"Dick is frustrated and it's been a big change for him, both on the ice and off the ice. We've talked to him often about what is happening," said Jim Nill to Sportbladet.

Detroit will not lend Dick Axelsson to Sweden, as they did with Johan Ryno. Or, as Detroit did with Axelsson last year.
"No, we are happy that he is in Grand Rapids. He has to go through this. And every time you meet a difficulty or face resistance in life you can not give up so easily, it's not that simple "said Nill.

Axelsson has played 16 games for Grand Rapids and has five points (2 goals + 3 assists). It has now gone almost two months since he scored his last in the AHL.
"Dick will grow if he continues to fight," said Nill.

No comment on the last quote. That was about two weeks ago. The only thing that could save this situation is, according to Dick, he tried to contact Detroit but couldn't get through, so he just left. Maybe if Detroit sits him down and makes sure he understands what this means, he'll come back. I wish he didn't make this decision as it really hurts his stock as a prospect, but at the same time it's important to realize he wasn't playing much, and he's a star over in Sweden. So I expect some will be saying "good riddance" the way they did with Ryno, but here's the difference:

• In 07/08, Ryno was playing a ton, and leading Detroit prospects in scoring.
• In 08/09, Ryno made it clear from the get go that he would like to stay in Sweden and Detroit agreed.
• In 09/10, Ryno came to camp saying it was the NHL or Sweden for him, Dick at least gave the AHL a shot.
  

Axelsson is in the second of his three year deal. Detroit let him stay in Sweden last season, but made it clear he needed to stay in the AHL this season. I will keep this updated if Detroit says anything about it.

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