Edvinsson Back With Red Wings After Undergoing Knee Surgery

The reason for Simon Edvinsson’s absence from the Detroit Red Wings lineup has been revealed. The big Swedish defenseman underwent a minor knee procedure.

“It was lingering for a while, and then at the last game I felt something even more,” Edvinsson said. “So then that was like the last drop that I needed to really do the surgery.”

Edvinsson had hoped to be able to play through the pain and discomfort until the season’s end. However, he tweaked the knee in a game against the Toronto Maple Leafs and found that he simply couldn’t go on any further without correcting the issue.

The Red Wings are back on the ice for practice and so is Simon Edvinsson. #LGRW

— Daniella Bruce (@daniellabruce_) February 17, 2026

“I thought I could go the whole season without doing it, but yeah, when I felt that and I couldn’t really put weight on my knee, then I was like no more,” Edvinsson said. “It happened in the first period in the Toronto game. I think it was all the adrenaline that made me play the whole game. Then the next day, it was just a no-go.

“So yeah, I’m glad that we got a surgery time. So quick recovery and everything has been great.”

Red Wings Hoping Edvinsson Will Be Good To Go When NHL Season Resumes

While he is participating in the team practices that resumed on Tuesday, Edvinsson is not partaking in contact drills. He remains hopeful that he’ll be good to go when the Red Wings return to action on February 26 in Ottawa.

“I’m going to take it day by day,” Edvinsson said. “We have a good connection between me, the coaches, and the training staff. So we’re going to keep talking.

“I don’t know just right now. I don’t want to say anything, but I’m going to do everything to be there for the first game back.”

What the Red Wings were missing without Edvinsson is evident. Detroit went 2-3-2 during Edvinsson’s seven-game absence. Among Red Wings defensemen, he’s second in goals (six) and plus-minus (+6). Edvinsson is third on the club in blocked shots (104) and takeaways (18).

The 6-foot-6, 222-pound Edvinsson recently turned 23. So the reality is that he’s only going to get better.

Relative xGF% 5v5 without EN | Defs

1. Adam Fox #NYR 13.11
2. Moritz Seider #LGRW 12.71
3. Evan Bouchard #LetsGoOilers 11.16
4. Jordan Spence #GoSensGo 10.50
5. Mattias Ekholm #LetsGoOilers 9.63
6. Dylan DeMelo #GoJetsGo 8.34
7. Adam Pelech #Isles 7.38
8. Simon Edvinsson #LGRW… pic.twitter.com/Bj2yKFn8sb

— Benchrates (@benchrates) February 3, 2026

“His curve is where we think it should be,” Detroit coach Todd McLellan said. “I use the word runway a lot. There’s a lot of runway left there for him to grow into his position in the game, both offensively and defensively. But his ability to skate, his range, and learning how to use that’s getting better.

“I think probably an underrated passer. He makes a lot of smart, long passes out of our end to spring guys. So I just think he’s growing, he’s getting better, with a lot left, and that’s a real good thing for him and for us.”