Detroit Red Wings Sign High Impact Defenseman Simon Edvinsson

The Detroit Red Wings took another major step in their rebuilding by signing 2021 first-round pick Simon Edvinsson to a three-year entry level contract. The deal starts next season.

Although Edvinsson still must prove himself next fall in training camp, the expectation is he will play next season for the Red Wings. He’s 6-foot-4,  210 pounds. He can skate, carry the puck and defend. The scouting projection for the Swedish defenseman is that he will be an impact performer. He spawned many memorable highlight videos this season in the Swedish Hockey League.

NHL scouts told Detroit Hockey Now Edvinsson will contribute as much as Moritz Seider and Lucas Raymond did this season. He has been compared to Tampa Bay Lightning standout Victor Hedman. However, scouts say his offensive impact doesn’t match Hedman’s ability.

In the perfect world, the Red Wings can play left-shot Edvinsson with right-shot Moritz Seider in the top pairing, or they could use one of them on the first pairing and the other on the second pairing. The Red Wings are coming off a poor defensive season. General manager Steve Yzerman will rebuild the defense this offseason.

What Simon Edvinsson did as an 18/19 year old rookie was outstanding.

These numbers are only a part of the equation, and I put them side by side with Seider not to try and set any expectations for Simon, but to give folks a frame of reference for an excellent SHL season. #LGRW pic.twitter.com/dHky3t3Rih

— Jay (@hwcJay) April 19, 2022

Edvinsson, 19, had two goals and 17 assists for 19 points for Frolunda in the Swedish Hockey League. He is a finalist for SHL Rookie of the Year. His team was eliminated by Lulea on a series-clinching goal by another Red Wings prospect Pontus Andreasson.  Seider was the No. 6 pick in  the 2019 NHL draft and Edvinsson was the No. 6 pick in 2021.

Edvinsson Signs Rookie Max Deal

Former NHL general manager Craig Button, now an analyst for TSN, recently rated Edvinsson as the NHL’s third-best affiliated prospect. He ranked only behind Buffalo Sabres’ Owen Power and Ottawa Senators young defenseman Jake Sanderson.

UPDATE: The #RedWings today signed defenseman Simon Edvinsson to a three-year entry-level contract beginning with the 2022-23 season. pic.twitter.com/oInqZKpZFN

— Detroit Red Wings (@DetroitRedWings) April 24, 2022

According to Puckpedia, com, Simon Edvinsson agreed to terms on a rookie max deal. It will pay him a base salary of $832,500. He got a signing bonus of $92,500. The deal also includes performance bonus clauses that could add up to another $850,000.