Red Wings Recall Gustafsson

Evidently, the injury suffered by Detroit Red Wings defenseman Simon Edvinsson in Wednesday’s 4-3 win over the Calgary Flames has been evaluated. And the news is not good.

On Thursday, the Red Wings recalled defenseman Erik Gustafsson from the AHL Grand Rapids Griffins under emergency conditions.

UPDATE: The #RedWings have recalled Erik Gustafsson from the AHL’s Grand Rapids Griffins under emergency conditions.

Additionally, Mason Appleton has been placed on IR retroactive to November 29. pic.twitter.com/kaoOiFtqVO

— Detroit Red Wings (@DetroitRedWings) December 11, 2025

Edvinsson left Wednesday’s win after blocking a shot with his leg. The Red Wings later confirmed via social media that Edvinsson would not be returning to the game due to a lower-body injury.

UPDATE: Simon Edvinsson: lower body, will not return.

— Detroit Red Wings (@DetroitRedWings) December 11, 2025

With 57 blocked shots, Edvinsson is in a tie for 24th in the NHL in that department. He’s among three Red Wings defenders who rank among the top 24 in the league in this department. Moritz Seider (64 blocked shots) is in a tie for 12th. Ben Chiarot (75 blocked shots) finds himself in a deadlock for second in the NHL. He’s trailing NHL leader Brayden McNabb of the Vegas Golden Knights by just three blocked shots.

Who Will Red Wings Pair With Seider?

Since Red Wings coach Todd McLellan flipped his top-four pairings – moving Edvinsson in alongside Seider and dropping Chiarot in alongside Axel Sandin Pellikka in the second tandem – the Edvinsson-Seider duo has proven to be among the most effective defensive pairings in the NHL.

According to data from Natural Stat Trick, at five-on-five, Seider and Edvinsson have been on the ice for 21 goals for and just 10 goals against. That plus-11 rating makes them the second-best defensive pairing in the NHL in that category. Only the Colorado Avalanche tandem of Cale Makar and Devon Toews (+15) is the owner of a higher rating.

The question facing McLellan is who replaces Edvinsson alongside Seider in Detroit’s top pairing as the Red Wings face the Edmonton Oilers on Thursday? During Edvinsson’s previous injury absence, a three-game stint from November 22-26, the Detroit coach experimented with a number of defenseman.

Jacob Bernard-Docker (8:27) saw the most ice time alongside Seider, followed by Travis Hamonic (7:49). Gustafsson even saw one 33-second shift teamed with Seider. Albert Johansson, Sandin Pellikka, and Chairot also saw duty alongside Seider.

Bernard-Docker missed the Calgary game through injury. There’s no word on whether he’ll be available for tonight’s game.