Simon Says Red Wings Prospect Edvinsson is Learning and Growing

Grand Rapids Griffins head coach Ben Simon has quite the task. The Detroit Red Wings are having one of its better starts in quite some time but all the while, have a collection of talent brewing in the American Hockey League.

One of those talents, Jonatan Berggren, finally got the call up on Thursday. But he’s one of many Red Wings prospects beating at the proverbial NHL door.

It’s Simon’s job to hone that talent not only in playing the Red Wings way, but making sure the Griffins remain competitive when that talent is shuttled to Detroit.

Grand Rapids’ bench boss sees good things from the collection of talent assembled by the Red Wings front office. He also sees growth in Detroit’s top defensive prospect, Simon Edvinsson.

Top Red Wings Prospect Edvinsson Making Strides

With Berggren now in Detroit, Red Wings fans’ attention shifts to Edvinsson, who has  eight points (1-7) in nine games. The 2021 sixth overall draft pick has been adjusting to the American Hockey League which includes games in consecutive nights. It also includes a lot of travel.

“With a younger kid, he’s learning the league,” Simon said. “I don’t think kids in Sweden are playing back to back games, let alone three games in three nights with travel. With that said, a lot of it is mental.”

Simon explains that the coaching staff is encouraging Edvinsson to keep pushing his offensive instincts while also taking more calculated risks.

“We’ve talked to him about joining the rush as opposed to leading the rush,” Simon said. “It’s okay to be involved offensively. But you want to make sure you’re managing and picking your spots.”

“If you’re up by a goal with two minutes to go, it might be a safe bet to make the simple play. It’s okay sometimes not to have an impact on the game.”

Much of that comes with time and maturity, recalling that Edvinsson is still a teenager at 19. At the same time, Simon and the staff want Edvinsson to still be the offensive threat he is.

In short, to trust the instincts he has and to use it wisely.

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“What we don’t want to do is put the reins on him,” Simon added. “He is an offensively gifted kid. We don’t want to take away from his offensive creativity. Really, it’s just his selection when he does apply that asset that he does have.”

Edvinsson Steadily Making His Case for a Future in Detroit

The offensive minded Edvinsson is holding his own and following Detroit’s 8-2 loss to New York last night, it’s not far fetched to think that should Edvinsson continue to adjust and grow with the Griffins, his time may arrive sooner rather than later with the Red Wings.

But it’s also just as likely that Detroit takes its time with the young defenseman, allowing him to grow steady on North American ice before bringing him up to the big club.

“You need to learn, for better for worse, what works or doesn’t work,” Simon said. “You learn from your successes, and learn from your failures.”

Regardless, he’s learning, growing, and starting to understand his role as he works to make it to Detroit.  With that, come lessons that lead to growth both now and later on in what Detroit hopes will be a lengthy career with the Red Wings.