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Does Detroit Red Wings Prospect Edvinsson Have a Shot at Olympic Team?

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Simon Edvinsson, Detroit Red Wings prospect
Detroit Red Wings prospect Simon Edvinsson is playing well enough to be considered a Swedish Olympic candidate

MoritzĀ  Seider is not the only young Detroit Red Wings defenseman drawing major attention. Simon Edvinsson, last season’s first-round draft pick, has been impressive enough in the Swedish Hockey League to be considered a candidate for 2022 Swedish Olympic team.

Simon Edvinsson has nine points in 15 games for first-place Frolunda. That’s the highest points per game for an Under-19 player in SHL history

Steve Yzerman Hat Trick?

Edvinsson is playing so well that people are only half-joking when they say Detroit GM Steve Yzerman may end up with the best player from three consecutive drafts in Seider (2019), Lucas Raymond (2020) and Edvinsson (2021).

Two television analysts said Edvinsson had a shot to make the Olympic team. The Swedes traditionally name some SHL players to the Olympic roster even when NHL players are available. However, they are not usually as young as Edvidsson. Former Red Wings player Johan Garpenlov will coach the team.

Hedman is 6-foot-4, 205 pounds and he has been compared to both Rasmus Dahlin and Victor Hedman this season. He has played more than 25 minutes in some games.

The best guess is that the Red Wings will bring him to North America at the end of this season or start of next season. His decision-making isn’t yet NHL caliber. He will likely need some American Hockey League time.

The Swedish National Junior team named Edvinsson, Theodor Niederbach (center-wing) and William Wallinder (defenseman) to its preliminary roster. That team will play in the World Junior Championship. Niederbach has three points in 15 games for Frolunda. Niederbach and Wallinder are also Red Wings’ prospects.

Simon Edvinsson Plays In Four Nations

First, the team will play at the Four Nations tournament Nov.12-14.Ā  The Czech Republic, Russia and Finland are the other competitors.

The Red Wings took Edvinsson with the sixth pick in the 2021 draft. They thought he would be gone at No. 6.Ā  At the time of the draft, scouts said he was raw, but talented. He looks a bit more polished this season.