The clock is ticking for Detroit Red Wings prospect Charlie Forslund, and next season might be his last chance to prove he belongs.

When the Red Wings selected the Swedish forward in the sixth round of the NHL Entry Draft, they knew it was a reach. But they saw something special. Assistant GM Kris Draper remembers watching Forslund play for Falun in Sweden's third division. "Playing against those men at a lower level, Charlie stood out," Draper said. "He's got good size, he can skate, he can really move and shoot the puck."

Two years later, that gamble hasn't paid off. Forslund has yet to play a single shift in the SHL, Sweden's top league. His development has been slow, and the Red Wings are running out of patience.

Now, Forslund has signed with Brynas of the SHL for next season. It's a make-or-break move. "My hope was that I would get into HockeyAllsvenskan straight away," Forslund told Hockey Sverige. "Then I didn't have a great first season, and it was quite a difficult transition for me."

Brynas is loaded with NHL experience, including longtime Washington Capitals star Nicklas Backstrom and former Red Wings defenseman Robert Hagg. That's tough competition for a player still finding his footing. But Forslund sees it as a challenge he's ready for. "I'm incredibly proud to be here now, and I see it as a confirmation that it can be good even if you don't take the same path as everyone else."

For Red Wings fans, Forslund remains a long shot. But if he can find his stride in the SHL, this sixth-round pick could still become a story worth watching.