MLive’s Ansar Khan answered questions about the playing futures of Sebastian Cossa and Simon Edvinsson in a mailbag feature:
Q: With all the bodies the Wings have on defense now, what are the chances of Simon Edvinsson making the team? Will they need to trade someone to make room for him? – Rick
A: They wouldn’t need to trade anyone but might have to eventually waive a defenseman to keep Edvinsson on the NHL roster. Yzerman indicated in the offseason that he has Edvinsson “penciled in” for the Red Wings roster this season. But his play in training camp and the preseason ultimately will dictate whether he’s in the NHL at the start of the season or in Grand Rapids.
Injuries to Mark Pysyk and Jake Walman alleviate the logjam a bit at the start. Pysyk could miss half the season following surgery for a torn Achilles tendon. No timeline was provided for Walman’s return following shoulder surgery.
The Red Wings’ top four is pretty much set with the likely pairs of Ben Chiarot-Moritz Seider and Olli Maatta-Filip Hronek. That would leave four others competing for the third pair spots – left-shooters Edvinsson, Jordan Oesterle and Robert Hagg and righty Gustav Lindstrom.
Do the Red Wings want Edvinsson playing third-pair minutes as opposed to a potential starring role and big minutes in all situations in Grand Rapids? Would they slot him ahead of the veteran Maatta alongside Hronek? This will make for a competitive camp.
One thing seems certain: If Edvinsson makes the roster at the start of the season, it won’t be as a temporary replacement for an injured player. The last thing the Red Wings would want to do is start him in the NHL and then demote him, unless he struggles. And it goes without saying Edvinsson won’t stick around as the seventh or eighth defenseman. He’ll only be in Detroit if he’s playing every game.
