DETROIT – Calle Jarnkrok's initial experience of North American hockey was an eye-opener, as the Detroit Red Wings' top prospect realized the need to get bigger and stronger when he returns next fall.

“I think I have to work on everything, but I think I need to work on my strength to be bigger and put some muscle on,'' Jarnkrok said. “I think that’s the biggest thing for me right now and this summer.”

The 6-foot, 176-pound highly skilled center had no goals and three assists in nine games for the AHL Grand Rapids Griffins before returning to Sweden to prepare for the World Championships.

As with all Europeans, his biggest adjustment was the smaller ice surface and more physical style.

“It was a little bit harder than I thought it would be,'' Jarnkrok, 21, said. “It was getting better and better for each game, so I feel good about it.

“I expected smaller ice and bigger players, so I expected it to be pretty tough for me. It was, but I think I figured it out and it’s getting better and better for each game.”

Jarnkrok, Detroit's second pick (51st overall in the second round) in the 2010 entry draft, will compete for a roster spot at Red Wings training camp in September. If he doesn't earn one, the club said he will start the season with the Griffins.

Former Red Wings captain Nicklas Lidstrom, doing some scouting and player evaluation for the club in Sweden, sized up Jarnkrok.

“He's a very shifty guy, he's quick, he's got quick hands, he sees the ice very well,'' Lidstrom said. “He's got real good hockey sense. He needs to get stronger and get used to playing on this ice surface, but he's got a lot of potential.''

Many have likened Jarnkrok's style to current Red Wings captain Henrik Zetterberg.

“You do see a lot of similarities to how Hank plays,'' Lidstrom said. “He's got that ability to hang onto the puck and not throw it away unless he has to. He can hold off guys and make that play when there's an opening and wait for that opening, too.

“I think he's ready for the next level and see how quick he can adapt to playing on smaller rinks with faster guys.''

Red Wings defenseman Jonathan Ericsson played with Jarnkrok on Sweden's World Championship team last year.

“He’s got really good hands and good vision,'' Ericsson said. “He’s not a very big guy, but it’s something that you can work on. He’s got all of the tools. It feels like he’s aware of everything all of the time.

“And he’s a righty, too, which is a good thing for us.”

Ericsson compared and contrasted Jarnkrok to Gustav Nyquist, another of the organization's skilled prospects.

“Gus is probably a little more explosive as far as his skating goes; there’s more of a smoothness to Calle’s skating, it’s really easy for him,'' Ericsson said. “I’d say that (Jarnkrok's) skills and moves are smoother, maybe more in the (Pavel) Datsyuk way, and Gus is really shifty.”