By Sean Dufresne | Ah, beat
On the busy 2023 trade deadline, the New York Rangers finally completed a deal that allowed them to win the winger Anton Blidh From Colorado Avalanche, Send Center Gustav Rydahl Another way.
Blidh joined a wolf pack club sitting at the top of the Atlantic division in March, though still hopeful for playoff bids. Hartford made the playoffs in an exciting way, winning eight games in the finals to win a spot in the 2023 Calder Cup playoffs.
Blidh had a direct impact in 11 points in 17 games, but it was his playoff performance that won Hartford’s loyalty. The Swedish forward scored seven points in nine playoff games, plus 11 points as the Wolves reached the final by defeating the top-seeded Providence Bruins, a club where Brad played 300 games in the 2015-16 season.
Fast forward to today, and Anton Blidh has become a true fan favorite for Hartford. Now, in his second season with Wolf Pack, the veteran has played 183 club games in the regular season and in the playoffs.
The Wolf Pack’s house building XL Center has attracted more than 60,000 spectators since early 2025, attracting energy that alternating captains didn’t notice.
“It was an illusion to play in front of enthusiastic fans. Their energy is infectious and gives me an additional boost to every game,” Brid said. “Knowing that we have their support has made me more motivated to give them everything I have every time I’m on the ice.”
Blidh’s tenure at Hartford gives him the opportunity to mentor some exciting prospects in the Wanderer pipeline, including the European forward team Jaroslav Chmela Tree and Adam Sýkora – Blidh’s experience makes sense.
“I remember being a rookie in a new country and looking up to older people,” Brid explained. “I try to be forward-looking, whether it’s providing advice, leading by example, sharing my passion and work ethics, or serving them. It’s so cool to see their confidence grow and the game grows.”
Blidh’s outstanding performance in the 2024-25 campaign brought him a career-high 15 goals on a two-goal night in the Lehigh Valley on February 8.
“I put a lot of energy and energy into the summer,” he said. “I spent a lot of time fine-tuning it, focusing on accuracy and release. This extra work really paid off, and I was able to get into the right spot on the ice when the opportunity came.”
Blidh achieved this while playing up and down the lineup, demonstrating the ability to work hard with a variety of play styles.
“Every player has his own style, but at the end of the day, my job remains the same – competing, doing smart games, and helping the team as much as I can.
“I tried to adapt to my captivity by reading and communicating, but my efforts and approaches would not change. Whether I was in the first line or fourth, I brought the same work ethics with each change.”
When it comes to Calder Cup playoff pictures, Hartford is currently sitting outside trying to stay alive in the always competitive Atlantic division. Blidh touched on his past playoff runs in the division, which was to go all out until the final whistle.
“Gaming in this department is a battle of every game,” he said. “Our experience and playoff seasons over the past few seasons have absolutely motivated me to do my best every day. I’ve gone through ups and downs and I know how hard it is to win. But, ultimately, we haven’t done that yet.
“That’s what drives me; our goal is to win the championship. There is still work to do, every game, every practice is a chance to get better and make sure we’re ready when we calculate.”
If there is anything certain when it comes to Wolfpack, then leadership is setting standards for completing strong standards.
