Detroit Red Wings
A Tale of Two Red Wings Swedes and Bloody Messes
Good day for Edvinsson, not so much for Johansson
Two Swedish defensemen connected to the Detroit Red Wings were involved in incidents on Thursday that left players with bloodied faces.
In the case of Red Wings defenseman Simon Edvinsson, he was inflicting the damage. However, Red Wings prospect Anton Johansson was the one absorbing the punishment.
Simon Edvinsson takes down BOTH Brady Tkachuk and Dylan Cozens #LGRW | #GoSensGohttps://t.co/MkjFzgWaZ3
— Missin Curfew (@MissinCurfew) February 27, 2026
As Detroit was beating Ottawa 2-1 on Sunday, Edvinsson left Senators captain Brady Tkachuk with a bloodied face after they collided inside the Ottawa blueline. Senators center Dylan Cozens then challenged Edvinsson to a fight and also came out second best from mixing it up with the 6-foot-6, 222-pound Swede.
Tkachuk and Edvinsson later engaged in a shouting match while in their respective penalty boxes.
Brady Tkachuk and Simon Edvinsson have a spirited conversation in the box 😳 pic.twitter.com/FjXbkS4tyJ
— TSN (@TSN_Sports) February 27, 2026
Red Wings coach Todd McLellan praised Edvinsson’s physical presence.
“Well, that’s in his toolbox, and he’s got to use everything he has, and he used it,” McLellan said.
Red Wings Prospect Not As Fortunate
Across the Atlantic Ocean in Sweden, Red Wings’ defense prospect Johansson wasn’t as fortunate when he got involved in an altercation.
Playing for Leksand IF in an SHL game against Färjestad, Johansson was high-sticked in the face by Emil Alba. He slumped to the ice, blood streaming from his nose and face.
“He is bleeding profusely,” TV4 commentator Stefan Klemetz said during the broadcast, according to reporting by Swedish website Expressen. “Hope it went well with the teeth. He’s bleeding a lot.”
Johnsson, selected 105th overall by Detroit in the 2022 NHL entry draft, was returning to action following a three-game absence. He took a shoulder to the head in a mid-ice collision with fellow Red Wings prospect Eddie Genborg during a game against Timra.
Johansson, 21, has already signed an entry-level contract with the Red Wings. It’s expected that he’ll be reporting to the AHL Grand Rapids Griffins once his Swedish season concludes. He appeared in 11 regular-season and three Calder Cup playoff games with the Griffins last season.
“Well, that’s in his toolbox, and he’s got to use everything he has, and he used it,” McLellan said.
That hit (and his fight with Cozins afterward) is the first time I’ve seen Simon show how dominant he can be when he uses his size to affect play. He’s grown a lot this year as a physical player, and it’s a welcome sign for the future.
And I loved the “conversation” he had with Brady in the penalty box. Tkachuk’s body language was much more subdued than usual. He knew he got creamed because he wasn’t paying attention on the ice. He got exactly what he would have dished out if the situation was reversed.
On a separate note, I’ve never seen two players like the Tkachuk brothers who are such quality human beings in real life but who turn into such complete a-holes once they put the skates on.
How about your screen name, Chelios was exactly that player.