Simon Edvinsson’s End-of-Season Call Up Gives Preview of What’s to Come

In a month-long call up to end the season, Simon Edvinsson showed flashes of the elite defenseman he could become in the future

Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports - Simon Edvinsson’s End-of-Season Call Up Gives Preview of What’s to Come

It may have taken some patience, but Simon Edvinsson’s call up was well-worth the wait.

Edvinsson, a 2021 first-round draft pick, played as a dependable second-pairing defenseman for the Detroit Red Wings in a 14-game call up to end the season. He showed significant development in his defensive play. Equally important, he didn’t show a lot of the decision-making warts that previous call ups had revealed. Now, entering an offseason to train for what seems like a near-guaranteed spot on next year’s NHL roster, Edvinsson’s next steps could be even greater.

“He was a big part of our team, he was a big part of why we were winning and he’s going to be a big part of the organization,” defenseman Moritz Seider said Thursday.

Seider’s prognostication is probably true. Edvinsson made significant headway this season compared to his struggles turning the puck over and getting burned defensively last season. Red Wings coach Derek Lalonde continuously used Edvinsson for important defensive scenarios including the penalty kill and late-game possessions. Edvinsson flashed his long reach and his shot-blocking in these 14-games to end the season, becoming a stalwart defensive player when that might not have been expected. He finished with 26 hits and 25 blocks in his 16 games this season. Those came in a lot of hard games, too, with playoffs on the line and the intensity raised.

“I was very impressed,” Seider said. “I wasn’t really surprised, to be honest. I think everyone kind of knew what he was gonna bring to our team. I mean, he’s a big strong skater. He can pass the puck really well, isn’t afraid of blocking shots, of throwing his body around and also has a little dynamic element for his offense, and that’s definitely something that helped us.”

Seider offers a unique perspective on Edvinsson’s growth because it wasn’t too long ago that Seider himself was a rookie breaking into the league. Seider’s situation differed — he earned a roster spot almost immediately, and he had an entire rookie season to develop in the NHL, but Seider also had to prove himself as an NHL-ready defender much like Edvinsson.

This brief call-up is a sneak preview of what Edvinsson could become next season. It’s hard to imagine his play didn’t earn him a permanent roster spot next season. He could even buddy up with Seider for a shutdown top pairing, who pitched the idea at his exit interview Thursday. So far, Edvinsson has lived up to the hype that had fans and pundits alike salivating for the chance to see him play this season. That creates lots of hype for what should be an exciting first full season in the NHL next year.

Even to the veterans in the room, Edvinsson’s poise and maturity in his call-up stands out. Edvinsson didn’t let any big moments overwhelm him, nor did he show any panic when things went wrong. That poise is a dual-edged sword, as Red Wings coach Derek Lalonde pointed out when Edvinsson was first called up in March — sometimes, a little panic is an encouragement to make the simple play via instinct. But overall, Edvinsson’s calm enabled him to admirably handle the jump between the AHL and NHL.

“I just didn’t know how poised he was,” defenseman Shayne Gostisbehere said Monday. “... The kid coming up and playing heavy minutes like he is, and the way he’s playing, he’s leading our back end back there pretty good. And like I said, the poise is so good for a big man. And I think for him, he’s just gonna get better.”

In the meantime, this offseason is crucial for Edvinsson. His defensive play was sound this season, but his offensive impact wasn’t as prominent as some might have hoped. He notched a goal and an assist in his 14 games, and while flashes of his puck-carrying genetics raised some excitement at times, they weren’t sustained. Edvinsson has the ability to raise his offensive footprint, scoring 19 points in 44 games during his draft-plus-one season in the SHL. He also showed more offensive success in his call-up last season, even if his defensive issues rendered his scoring pointless.

In fact, part of why it took so long for Edvinsson to get here was the desire for him to develop his offensive toolkit — specifically by running Grand Rapids’ power play in a role he couldn’t get just yet in the NHL. The Red Wings’ plan for Edvinsson likely has a bigger emphasis on scoring than he showed in this call up. If he can marry the two sides of his game with a bit more balance, Edvinsson’s impact will only grow.

For now, it’s a waiting game to see how Edvinsson comes out of the offseason and carries forward with his role. But if he can play anything like he did in this brief call up, the Red Wings could have a crucial piece of the lineup for next season.