In just over a week, the Detroit Red Wings will take to the ice for training camp. Everything about the preseason carries a lot of weight for the team, including the prospect’s tournament. The team’s success hinges on the young players and what they’ve accomplished this summer. Last season saw two young players take a big step forward for the Red Wings. Both Marco Kasper and Simon Edvinsson played significant roles in their first full NHL season.
While Kasper secured a role as a second line centerman, Edvinsson now looks to be the #2 defenseman in the organization.
Edvinsson’s first full season was impressive
Detroit got more than they bargained for after drafting Edvinsson in 2021. The left shot defenseman grew 2 inches after the draft, now standing 6’6”. He quickly began turning heads, and continues to impress with his development. In his first full season, Edvinsson finished second in points among defensemen while playing 21:07 per night.
While the plus/minus stat doesn’t carry much weight in modern hockey, Edvinsson’s +12 stands out. He was the only defenseman with a positive differential last season. His impact is undeniable, and on paper is clearly the best left shot blue liner that Detroit has. It sounds like that may not be enough to have “Eddy” slotted alongside Moritz Seider, at least not yet.
The balancing act for Detroit’s defensemen
The Red Wings have a history of trying to bring balance to all of their lines. In the case of Edvinsson, that likely means that he will start the year on the second line. Early projections have Ben Chiarot slated to skate on the top line with Moritz Seider.
There were times at the end of the season where Edvinsson and Seider were paired, and it did not disappoint. The two stand 6’4” and 6’6” and bring a lot to the ice. The two could well be the top pairing for Detroit in the near future and for a long time. The team needs more depth in the top 4 to make that a full time possibility.
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