It wasn’t the most detailed scouting report ever issued.
But it was highly accurate.
When asked what he knew about his new teammate with the Pittsburgh Penguins, Erik Karlsson was precise.
“He’s a very big guy,” the defenseman said Sunday. “I know that.”
At 6-foot-8 and 252 pounds, forward Elmer Soderblom is indeed a very big guy.
In fact, he has matched former forward Steve McKenna (6-8, 252) as the tallest player in the history of the Pittsburgh Penguins.
And, that was a … ahem … big reason the Penguins swung a trade for Soderblom, sending a third-round selection in this year’s draft to the Detroit Red Wings in exchange.
“He fits a prototype that we really don’t have in our prospect pool,” Penguins president of hockey operations Kyle Dubas said Friday. “And he’s a very tall human being.
“The things that have stood out with him this year have been the ability to forecheck, get in on the forecheck, disrupt pucks, and win pucks back.”
Soderblom made his Penguins debut on Sunday in a 5-4 overtime home win against the Boston Bruins. Opening the contest on the left wing of the third line, he logged 10:21 of ice time on 12 shifts and had three shots on five attempts. He was also 1 for 1 in the faceoff dot.
“I was trying to not think too much,” Soderblom said of his debut. “It’s new systems and stuff like that. But I tried to just play my game and I just don’t think too much and just play.”
Much of how Soderblom plays is rooted in his most prominent asset.
“I like to use my size to my advantage, play around the net,” Soderblom said. “Use the body, play physical, get to the net, use my hands and shoot in tight as well. So, a little mix of everything, I guess.”
“I like to use (size) around the net and also play physical in the corners, use my size to be tough to play against. I want their (defensemen) to have a tough night.
With a wingspan rivaling a Piper PA-46, Sodberblom utilizes his reach in a variety of fashions.
“Can shoot from different angles that other players can’t really deal with, with (them) a shorter stick,” Soderblom said. “Also, the reach on the forecheck. Getting on pucks, knock pucks off. Some defensemen get thrown off by how long my reach (is) sometimes. Protecting pucks also. Hold it as far as I can from the other players. It’s a bit of a mix of everything.”
The 24-year-old Soderblom is actually the “little” brother in his family. But Arvid Soderblom, a 26-year-old goaltender with the Chicago Blackhawks, is only 6-3 and 180 pounds.
“I grew past my older brother when I was like 8 years old,” Elmer Soderblom said. “Everybody thought I was the bigger, or older, brother. But he is.”
A sixth-round draft pick (No. 159 overall) of the Red Wings in 2019, Soderblom hasn’t exactly put up … well … big numbers over his three seasons in the NHL. In 86 games with the Red Wings, he has 22 points (11 goals, 11 assists).
Even his figures in the American Hockey League (AHL) aren’t overwhelming. His career-high at that level came in 2024-25 when he put up 29 points (13 goals, 16 assists) in 61 games with the Grand Rapids Griffins.
Regardless, the Penguins see … bear with us … big, untapped potential in Soderblom.
“He’s a guy that’s hard to miss,” coach Dan Muse said. “So, you know who he is when he’s out there,
“Just a massive player with really good speed for his size. Just good speed in general. You see the puck protection. You see his ability to get in on the forecheck. He plays a really solid two-way game, just that reach that he has, combined with the speed that he could provide, his (ability) to get back and strip pucks. And so there’s a lot there. He’s still a young player, too, and that’s exciting in terms of where (we) hope to get him to.”
Soderblom has … wait for it … big hopes for where he can go with the Penguins.
“I’m really excited to be here and it was really fun to play today and get things going here in Pittsburgh,” Soderblom said. “So, I’m just looking forward to playing more.”
Notes: The Penguins loaned defenseman Jack St. Ivany to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton of the AHL for a conditioning assignment. He has been designated to injured reserve since Jan. 27 due to a left hand injury that required surgery. … The Penguins had a scheduled day off Monday.