Detroit defenseman Simon Edvinsson earned the distinction for his efforts with the Grand Rapids Griffins during the 2023-24 season

The AHL recently released its Top Prospect Team for the 2023-24, and Detroit prospect Simon Edvinsson was one of two defenseman to earn the league-wide honor.

Some Red Wing fans perhaps expected Edvinsson to begin the season with the NHL club, but instead, he began his campaign in Grand Rapids, where he spent the bulk of his 2023-24 season.  In 54 regular season games, Edvinsson tallied eight goals and 22 assists, to go with a +5 rating.  He would add in another two assists in six Calder Cup Playoff games.

Despite spending the bulk of his season in the AHL, Edvinsson certainly found a way to make an impact at the highest level of the game by the year's conclusion.  He finished the year having played 16 games with the Red Wings.  He put up just a goal and an assist, but Edvinsson's defensive impact and the trust he garnered with Detroit's 

He certainly earned the respect of his peers with his performances in the Red Wings' playoff push down the stretch.  “I was very impressed,” Moritz Seider said of the young Swede. “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.”

“I just didn’t know how poised he was,” defenseman Shayne Gostisbehere added. “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.”

This latest honor can't encapsulate the totality of Edvinsson's '23-24 season, but it is a nice reminder of his successes.

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