Sportsnet’s Lauren Kelly posted a primer on the 2022 World Junior Championship, which will be held in Edmonton and Red Deer, Alberta, discussing the strengths, weaknesses and “x-factors” for each of the participating teams. She suggests that Sweden’s “x-factor” is a Red Wings draft pick:
X-Factor: Simon Edvinsson (DET)
Emil Andrae (PHI) is the lone player who will return from Sweden’s deep 2021 defence corps, which means the blue line will be relatively inexperienced this time around. However, Detroit’s sixth overall pick in 2021, Simon Edvinsson, could help provide the necessary stability on the back end. The hulking 6-foot-5, 207-pound left-shot defender is a smooth-skating, physical player who has the ability to produce from the blue line as well.
