Blackhawks sign Swedish forward Anton Wedin and add Tomas Mitell — a former Jeremy Colliton assistant — to the coaching staff

The Blackhawks dipped into their Swedish pipeline Wednesday, signing forward Anton Wedin to a one-year deal and adding Tomas Mitell as an assistant coach.

Wedin, 26, was a low-scoring forward playing for Timra IK in Sweden’s second-tier league Allsvenskan before the team jumped to the Swedish Hockey League last season. Wedin had 27 points, including a team-high 14 goals, over 32 games in 2018-19.

Wedin’s previous high came during the 2015-16 season when he scored 25 points (7 goals, 18 assists) in 47 games.

Mitell, 38, has been coaching in Sweden since his playing career ended in 2013 and was an assistant under Hawks coach Jeremy Colliton for Swedish team Mora IK during the 2016-17 season.

After one season with Colliton, Mitell became the head coach for Allsvenskan side AIK Hockey and last year led them to a 35-8-9 record.

“We felt good about working together,” Mitell said from Sweden in a phone interview. “Good chemistry. Both with the guys on the team and what we want to do with the team. We’ve been in contact (these) two years now since he’s been in the States and I’ve been in Sweden.

“When (Jeremy) asked about it, of course you need to consider every job. Going to the Chicago Blackhawks (to) work … with Jeremy was exciting and I look forward to it.”

Mitell has watched Wedin’s development as an opposing coach and believes he’s capable of making an immediate impact on the Hawks.

“Good skater, hard-working guy with some skill too,” Mitell said. “He’s always well-liked on the team he’s been (on). I think he’s going to be fun to watch. He’s going to be a good player for the Blackhawks.”

Mitell replaces former Hawks assistant Don Granato after the team announced last month Granato would not be returning. Colliton’s staff now includes Mitell, Sheldon Brookbank and goaltending coach Jimmy Waite.

The Hawks have found success in recent years with Swedish-born players, including Niklas Hjalmarsson, Marcus Kruger and Erik Gustafsson.

jgreenfield@chicagotribune.com

Twitter @jcgreenx

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