Two more Red Wings-related World Junior Championship notes this morning:
- Detroit Hockey Now’s Kevin Allen posted a summary of the Red Wings’ prospects participating in the WJC this morning, and he notes this regarding one Simon Edvinsson:
Six-foot-six defenseman Edvinsson should play for the Red Wings this season. Wallinder is another blue chip defensive prospect and Niederbach is one of the top forwards in the Detroit pipeline.
“When I was a little kid I always wanted to play in the World Junior Championship,” Edvinsson said. “I just played two games. That hunger goes a little bit more. It’s in the summer, I think that’s a good run-up to training camp to be prepared for the training camp. I always wanted to play in the World Juniors, always wanted to win one, too.”
Canada is the favorite, but the Swedes have an exceptional team. They launch their tournament Wednesday against Switzerland (2 p.m., NHL Network)
“After the World Juniors I think I’m going to go home and say goodbye to my family and everyone there and go straight up here (to Detroit) to fight for a spot,” Edvinsson said.
2. And MLive’s Ansar Khan posted an article about Eemil Viro, who will man Finland’s blueline before coming to Detroit to compete for a roster spot, though he’s likely to start the season in Grand Rapids:
“(The Red Wings) said to get ready in battles, to get ready to come and play here,” Viro said. “The rink is smaller and there’s going to be more competition in the corners. I needed to be better at that. Of course, the game is going to be a lot faster, hit harder in the battles. I’m really looking forward to that.”
Before [training camp], Viro, 20, will represent Finland at the World Junior Championship, which starts today in Edmonton.
The Red Wings’ sixth selection in 2020 (70th overall in the third round) will participate in his first NHL training camp next month and possibly play in some preseason games before being assigned to the Griffins. He’ll join a blueline that includes fellow prospects Jared McIsaac, Donovan Sebrango, Albert Johansson, Seth Barton and possibly 2021 top pick Simon Edvinsson.
Playing in Finland’s top men’s league for 2½ seasons with TPS Turku, including two long playoff runs, helped him prepare.
“I think defensively I got a lot better,” Viro said. “I think the season was also good. The team was playing well and got better in the end and got to the finals, but we lost.”
