Red Wings Recall Simon Edvinsson from Grand Rapids

The Detroit Red Wings, fighting to make the playoffs for the first time in eight seasons, have called up 6-foot-6 defenseman Simon Edvinsson from the Grand Rapids Griffins.

He will play in Detroit’s top four with Jeff Petry as his partner. Petry and Edvinsson played together in the preseason.

“You just look at him on the ice,” Petry said. “I think the big frame, his ability to skate. That’s huge. His poise with the puck. Just making sure that we communicate on the ice. Just kind of talk our way through the D zone and things like that. I think he has the skill set to be here and do well. We’ll just kind of work with him on different things that we see and kind of build it from there.

Edvinsson was brought up because defenseman Jake Walman is day to day with a lower body injury. Another defenseman is fighting an illness. Forward Michael Rasmussen is also a game-time decision because of illness.

“(It’s) like go out and play your kind of hockey,” Edvinsson said. “That’s why you’re up here. That’s what they’ve been saying to me.”

Even though Edvinsson was brought up as an injury replacement, Lalonde said there is chance he could stay.

“We’re looking for solutions and answers,”  We’re in an interesting spot in that we probably had our best game in a while on Saturday,” Lalonde said. “Buffalo put up another touchdown last night. We help them to seven chances. We’ll see. We got a lot of moving parts. We’re still unsure on our D tonight. A couple of those guys will be game-time decisions on our back end.”

Edvinsson Knows the Score

Edvinsson understands the pressure that the Red Wings are under as they try to regain their wild card spot.

Edvinsson ready to work 💪#LGRW pic.twitter.com/1hRIsNn50V

— Bally Sports Detroit (@BallySportsDET) March 19, 2024

“We have to win,” Edvinsson said. “Only that is kind of pressure, but it’s more fun. I’m more happy than I feel pressure, so it’s a fun opportunity I feel like.”

Injured Captain Dylan Larkin won’t play tonight, but will practice Wednesday. His chance of playing Thursday against the New York Islanders seems iffy.

Edvinsson, 21, has played 51 games for the Griffins this season and leads the defensive group with eight goals and 29 points. The towering Swede is considered a two-way defensemen who has improved his defensive prowess this season. He’s one of the reasons why the Griffins have had a successful season.

Edvinsson played two games earlier this season for the Red Wings and recorded one assist.  The Red Wings selected him sixth overall in the 2021 NHL draft. He joins Moritz Seider and Lucas Raymond as three Steve Yzerman draft picks currently on the Detroit roster.

The Red Wings are currently one point out of a playoff spot going into tonight’s game against the Columbus Blue Jackets.