Lidstrom's sons follow in family tradition

Detroit — There's actually something that irritates the unflappable Nicklas Lidstrom.

And his son Adam, who is participating in the Red Wings development camp this weekend, knows what it is.

"Messing around with my brothers," said Adam, 19, a forward, who is in camp with his brother, Kevin, 21. "If we're on a time schedule and we have to go somewhere, and we're messing around with each other ... he gets angry."

But not at hockey games.

"He's kind of quiet, he just sits and watches the game," Adam said. "He'll say a couple of things after the game to think about."

Nicklas Lidstrom, who was elected to the Hockey Hall of Fame this week, retired three years ago and moved the family back to Sweden. And that's where his sons play hockey — Adam for Vasteras (Nicklas' former team) and Kevin for IFK Arboga.

"It's a different kind of hockey," Adam Lidstrom said.

"It's more skills (oriented) and not as physical as here. I feel I've learned a lot over there."

And now he'll get to show it in a Red Wings sweater in Traverse City this weekend.

"It's a special feeling," he said. "

I've thought about it my whole life, about wearing it, and now it'll come true."

No relation

Another name familiar to the Red Wings is Holmstrom.

But Axel Holmstrom is not related to former Red Wings star Tomas Holmstrom.

"Some of the other players have asked me," said Axel, a seventh-round pick in 2014 who was named Swedish junior player of the year last season. "We're not related. We were born in the same city (Pieta). ... I've heard I'm his son, but that's not the way it is."

Holmstrom (6-foot-1, 198 pounds) had 20 points (10 goals) in 44 games with Skelleftea, then had 18 points (seven goals) in 15 playoff games.

Motivating factor

Anthony Mantha said the comments from Red Wings senior vice president/alternate governor Jimmy Devellano regarding Mantha's first pro season in Grand Rapids will serve as motivation.

Devellano told Fox Sports Detroit that Mantha's season was "very, very, very disappointing. Coming out of junior, we had such high hopes for him."

Mantha is looking forward to proving Devellano — and the doubters — wrong.

"It's part of adversity," Mantha said. "You need to build through it and get stronger. I was telling myself I had the rest of the playoffs to show him wrong and I tried to build off that."

Aiming high

Dylan Larkin (Waterford/Michigan) went from Michigan to the World Junior Championships to the World Championships before turning pro and playing in Grand Rapids.

And it was a successful run.

But does Larkin believe he can make the jump to the NHL?

"I want to make the jump," said Larkin, who likely will start next season in Grand Rapids.

ted.kulfan@detroitnews.com

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