With the Red Wings hot, does it still make sense to recall Edvinsson? During the Detroit Red Wings December doldrums, it felt almost ridiculous that the team turned to top prospect Simon Edvinsson for just two games, in which he played 13:18 and 15:59 respectively. The Red Wings were enduring tremendous defensive struggles, and the team's veteran defense corps seemed in glaring need of further support, which Edvinsson might have provided had he been given a longer runway to do so. Nonetheless, Detroit found a way through those defensive woes and into a stingy and successful month of January, without needing to turn to Edvinsson. Instead, an increase in practice time [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/detroit-red-wings/news/lalonde-credits-practice-time-for-red-wings-defensive-turn-around] and sterling form from Alex Lyon [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/detroit-red-wings/analysis/alex-lyon-driving-detroits-hot-january] helped drive a 9-2-2 month. Meanwhile, Edvinsson has six goals and 16 assists in 36 games with the Grand Rapids Griffins, where he looks altogether dominant. He even won a fight last week without even appearing all that interested in fighting to begin with [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/detroit-red-wings/news/must-watch-edvinsson-fights-after-berggren-clinches-griffins-win-with-empty-netter]. So, with the Red Wings streaking, does Edvinsson still deserve a spot in the NHL lineup? My cohost Connor Earegood and I tackled that question on the most recent episode of The Silky Mitten State [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/detroit-red-wings/features/the-red-wings-flash-playoff-potential-a-um-msu-review-the-silky-mitten-state-episode-12]. There's a lot to consider there, including the very real possibility that affording Edvinsson a spot in the NHL lineup with a decent workload may lead to short-term struggles as he attempts to assimilate into life as a full-time NHLer. Nonetheless, Connor and I ultimately agreed that, while playoff aspirations are of course real and important at this stage of the season, it's in the organization's best long-term interest to ensure that Edvinsson gets meaningful NHL minutes before the year's conclusion. For a sampling of that conversation, take a look at that featured video above. Check out the full episode on Apple Podcasts or Spotify: ALSO FROM THN DETROIT Which Red Wings Merit Mid-Season Award Consideration? [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/detroit-red-wings/features/which-red-wings-merit-mid-season-award-consideration] Should the Red Wings Carve Out a Bigger Role for Daniel Sprong? [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/detroit-red-wings/analysis/should-the-red-wings-carve-out-a-bigger-role-for-daniel-sprong] DeBrincat, Veleno Hit Milestones in Red Wings' Loss to Ottawa [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/detroit-red-wings/news/debrincat-veleno-hit-milestones-in-red-wings-loss-to-ottawa] Red Wings 2, Senators 3 (OT): Flat Effort Dooms Detroit in Final Game Before Break [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/detroit-red-wings/news/red-wings-2-senators-3-ot-flat-effort-dooms-detroit-in-final-game-before-break] Report: Red Wings First-Round Pick Axel Sandin Pellikka Poised to Return from Injury [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/detroit-red-wings/news/report-red-wings-first-round-pick-axel-sandin-pellikka-poised-to-return-from-injury] Injury Update: Patrick Kane Says He "Should Be Good to Go After the Break," Re-Affirms Injury not Hip-Related [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/detroit-red-wings/news/injury-update-patrick-kane-says-he-should-be-good-to-go-after-the-break-re-affirms-injury-not-hip-related] Report: Los Angeles May Be Ready to Trade Arthur Kaliyev. Would He Make Sense in Detroit? [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/detroit-red-wings/analysis/report-los-angeles-may-be-ready-to-trade-arthur-kaliyev-would-he-make-sense-in-detroit] How Should the Red Wings Divide the Starts in Goal with Ville Husso Healthy? [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/detroit-red-wings/features/how-should-the-red-wings-divide-the-starts-in-goal-with-ville-husso-healthy] A Portrait into a Successful Month, Lyon Slams the Door, and the Copp Line Keeps Driving: Red Wings-Golden Knights Statistical Review [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/detroit-red-wings/analysis/a-portrait-into-a-successful-month-lyon-slams-the-door-and-the-copp-line-keeps-driving-red-wings-golden-knights-statistical-review] "Nice to Get a Game Back in Action": Ville Husso Reflects on Conditioning Start in Grand Rapids [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/detroit-red-wings/news/nice-to-get-a-game-back-in-action-ville-husso-reflects-on-conditioning-start-in-grand-rapids]
