Its been a busy few weeks in the hockey world. Amid the trades, expansion draft, NHL Entry Draft, and a host of free-agent movement, the Red Wings have found themselves in a very pleasant position.
We have a lot to go over in the coming weeks but this week, we’re focusing on the Detroit Red Wings first pick of the 2021 NHL Entry Draft – Swede Simon Edvinsson. Buckle in over the next few weeks because we’ll be breaking down everything else!
Edvinsson, a massive 6-ft-5 defenseman out of the Allsvenskan (SHL), was one that highlighted the European top 31 for quite some time. Ranked 2nd in the European circuit, Edvinsson has been compared to Victor Hedman and Oliver Ekman-Larsson in terms of play style. For a large skater, his body positioning and speed are very good and he demonstrates a very high level of awareness when it comes to puck handling.
We break down this week, why Edvinsson was a solid first pick for Detroit, and what we could potentially see out of him in the near future!
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14 Comments
How about Michigan getting 4 of the 5 first picks let's go blue
Every year the future gets brighter. What are your thoughts on what some are bringing up concerning all the D-man drafts and a supposed lack of wings and centers? Will that hurt us in the future?
You girls are amazing.
Like his size, Maybe not so important in fighting anymore but good for body checks and holding ground. Most sports I want to watch just good games donāt want to see teams flounder so much, Except maybe like to see the Yankees lose and Michigan NCAA football lose , ha
I was 50/50 between Eklund and Edvinsson but I slightly wanted Edvinsson more because I think strong defense and strong goaltending is arguably more important than offense. Two things you can not win without: Excellent defense and excellent goaltending. Sure your offense can score 3 goals a game but if your defense and goalie is allowing 4 goals your not winning the game. We also went for offense last year with Raymond, plus next year's draft is going to be stacked with forwards like Wright, Savioe, Lambert….etc and we could have a chance to draft one of them. Plus Detroit already has a lot of offensive power with Larkin, Vrana, Bertuzzi, Hirose, Erne, Zadina, Rasmussen, Smith, Fabbri, Veleno and hopefully Raymond and Berggren soon not to mention other promising late rounders like Soderblom and Grewe….etc. So that's another reason why I wanted a top rated defenseman with that 6th pick. Edvinsson is like 6 ft 4 and over 200 pounds, imagine him on a line with Seider. You got two huge defenseman you gotta ger through and then you also gotta beat a 6 ft 6 goalie. Yzerman addressed Detroit's goalie situation with Cossa and bolster up the blue line with Edvinsson. I give Yzerman a solid B+, my only complaint is that he traded up and chose Cossa when Wallstedt was still available. I mean I guess it doesn't really matter. Most rankings had them equal, or Wallstedt as slightly better. But hey, I trust Stevie Y. Only time will tell. Let's not forget when he chose Seider at 6th in 2019 we were all like WTF. I was pissed at first lol š and gave Yzerman a solid B- (which would have been a C- had it been Holland). But now that choice is paying off very well.
I didn't get a chance to watch video of Edvinsson, so I'm just going off what people say about him. I've heard a few people question his decision-making which is worrisome. But Kronwall, Lidstrom, Andersson, etc. should have all been able to see him, and he was the pick. So, I'm hoping it all goes well. I feel like if he doesn't reach first pair status, there is going to be a constant "we could have had Eklund" storyline.
As of now, Detroit's Defense and Goaltending should be complete for the next 10-12 years. Detroit is only lacking a #1 or #2 Center and maybe a top goal scorer, and that's about it. My hope for Detroit is for them to get lucky in the Shane Wright draft next year. Yzerman has improved Detroit's future immensely over these two years!
What could Detroit's future line-up look like several years down the road especially if Detroit wins the Shane Wright lottery:
Vrana Wright Raymond
Bertuzzi Larkin Zadina
Berggren Veleno Neiderbach
Soderblom Rasmussen Erne
Edvidsson Seider
Johansson Hronek
Wallinder Cotton
Tuomisto
Cossa
Nedeljkovic
I excluded Fabbri and other prospects. I could see Bertuzzi, Fabbri, Leddy and Stetcher being traded as early as next seasons deadline.
Haha I love this video. Youāre both so happy and full of energy. I enjoyed this one š¤
What's the plan for GR D this coming season?
With Biega, McIlrath, Hicketts all gone, lots of room for new guys. But who comes to fill the void?
Believe it or not joe Hicketts is my cousin
What's even more surprising is William Eklund's failure to pick up .. For he was a better player last season than Lucas Raymond, even though he is younger than him.. Yzerman picked up the defenders in the first and second rounds of 2019: Seiderer by number: 6 and Antti Tuomisto by number: 35… In 2020: number; 4 Lucas Raymond (forward) and number: 32 William Wallinder and now 2021 number: 6 Simon Edvinsson and number: 36 Shai Buium .. So where are the top-round forward picks?? Weāve picked under number 50, with only one forward in the last three NHL draft events and thatās Raymond… (Edvinsson will certainly become an excellent defender, but we would have needed real talent for the forwards that Eklund represents.)
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Big year coming up for Frolunda and especially Soderblom, Dower Nilsson, Niederbach and Edvinsson.
Soderblom – Its going to be interesting seeing where in the lineup he will fit with the Frolunda, i think he will have a great year.
Niederbach – This is a tougher one, he wont be playing center with Frolunda, he is going to play on the wing, he might have a hard time getting ice time above 11 minutes.
Dower Nilsson – I expect a year in the juniors or a loan to a allsvenskan team / hockeyettan. He is not good enough for SHL.
Edvinsson – This is a important season for him. I dont think he is good enough to be a leading defensemen in the SHL, he wont get a lot of PP ice time if any.
he's off to an amazing start to the SHL season; as is Albert Johannson.