The Free Press’s Helene St. James answers a mailbag question this morning, discussing Red Wings prospect Simon Edvinsson as the most likely rookie to join the Wings’ fray next season:
Edvinsson spent part of last season with Frölunda in the Swedish Hockey League, where he was teammates with Raymond. Yzerman billed Edvinsson as a “big, rangy D that can really skate. He’s got good puck skills. We just see his potential to be a left-shot defenseman that can log a lot of minutes and be a defender that can add some offense to the game as well. We like his skating ability, his size and his reach.”
Edvinsson is similar in size to Seider, standing 6 feet 5 and 207 pounds. That’s an advantage, especially for young players, making it less likely opponents try to intimidate them as they adjust to the NHL. Edvinsson is highly skilled, too. He’s enjoying a really good season with Frölunda, with whom he has one goal and 10 assists after 18 games. He has played as much as 25 minutes some nights, and averages about 20 minute of ice time. That’s an impressive pace for an 18-year-old in his first full season in the SHL.
Yzerman has been firm the Wings won’t rush prospects, but Raymond was brought over at 19, and he has looked like he belonged in the NHL from his first game. Defense is a harder position, but Edvinsson has that same poise that allowed Seider to succeed in men’s leagues at an early age.
Continued (paywall)
