EP Rinkside’s Sean Shapiro penned a profile of Red Wings defenseman Simon Edvinsson on his Shap Shots blog, discussing Edvinsson’s attempts to establish himself as a regular NHL defenseman:
“First you have to make a name, you have to prove that, and then you can try to get a role,” Edvinsson said.
Edvinsson said it’s a shift in mentality. In the past he had to treat every shift like he was trying to prove he belonged on the NHL roster, it’s not a very calming feeling and any mistake felt amplified. Now he said gets to attack each practice with confidence that he’s got a job, and just can prove his game will lead to larger roles and opportunities.
He can make the game easier, he can be calm off the ice, ideally matching his demeanor on it.
“I feel like in general my game is just smooth now,” Edvinsson said. “Calm with the puck, my breakout passes. I think that’s my strength, is that my skating and my breakout passes. That’s also become my best addition, I can be smooth now from the defensive to the offensive zone.”
Continued (paywall); Edvinsson has always been confident in himself. Now his job is to make his game smooth on a shift-by-shift basis.
