The Detroit Red Wings selected Swedish defenseman Simon Edvinsson with the sixth overall pick in the 2021 NHL Entry Draft. He is already looking like someone who could be impactful in Hockeytown. The Red Wings handed out an entry-level contract to the big defenseman that will take effect for the 2022-23 season.
The sign of faith in bringing Edvinsson state-side for the 2022-23 season is a good one. The Detroit Red Wings already have one spitfire of a defenseman in Moritz Seider; now they are adding in another. There is nothing set in stone, and training camp will be the big decider, but Edvinsson may just crack the roster.
Edvinsson is a big-bodied defenseman who seems that he’s going to ease in, similar to how Seider did during his rookie campaign. It’s not to say he’s going to make a push for a Calder trophy, but it should be a smooth transition for Edvinsson, who can be an impactful top-four defender.
He stands 6-foot-5 and weighs in at 207 pounds, shooting from the left side, which would allow the Red Wings to pair Seider and Edvinsson together if they so choose. While that’s a down-the-line scenario, it’s one that should sound exciting for Red Wings fans.
Detroit Red Wings prospect Simon Edvinsson may crack the NHL roster this fall.
For the Red Wings, getting Edvinsson to North America is just another step in the Yzerplan, helping build out their defense core for the long haul. Edvinsson is the Red Wings’ next top prospect and bodes to perform that way when he gets the chance.
Coming into training camp, expect him to get high-level looks and strut his stuff. The odds of him making the team are high; keeping him in Grand Rapids may stall development as it seems he has the tools and the ability to perform in the show right now.
He’s coming off a 44-game stint with Frölunda HC, where he scored two goals and added 17 assists for 19 total points. He played for Sweden’s junior team, totaling four games played between the two tournaments, producing a goal and four assists for five points.
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There’s going to be plenty to like with Edvinsson, especially the way he uses his big-bodied presence to be a quality defender. He’s had success on both ends of the ice in his amateur career and will look to do the same when he arrives in Hockeytown.
While his statistics have not always favored that of a super offensive-minded defenseman, the skills are there. He’s cool, calm, and collected with the puck in the offensive zone. There’s a chance he’s the Red Wings’ next big two-way defender, and with Seider going into his sophomore season, he will be able to learn from the other former first-rounder.
As the summer continues and prospect camp comes into focus and training camp, expect more storylines around Edvinsson to pop up. Early speculation should leave him making the Red Wings roster in time for the 2022-23 season.
