Detroit Red Wings

Three Red Wings Prospects Named to Swedish World Junior Squad

Three Red Wings draft picks are part of Sweden’s team that will play in the World Junior Championship this August

Published

2 years ago

June 21, 2022

Bob Duff

Simon Edvinsson, Detroit Red WIngs prospect

Red Wings 2021 first round draft pick Simon Edvinsson is to play for Sweden in this summer's world juniors.

The Detroit Red Wings will be well represented on the Swedish roster for this summer’s IIHF World Junior Championship. Three Detroit draft picks are among the Swedish squad that was officially unveiled on Tuesday.

Expectations were that defenseman Simon Edvinsson and center/right wing Theodor Niederbach were going to be part of the lineup. Both were also with the Swedes in the winter. Organizers ended up halting play mid-tournament due to an outbreak of COVID-19.

However, defenseman William Wallinder wasn’t part of that club. He will be the second time around, though. The Rogle defenseman and Red Wings draftee was included when the new edition of the team was announced.

“I feel great confidence in the squad, which contains skilled and exciting players,” Monten told SHL.se. “We have a high level of competence in each position.”

No Lucas Raymond, No Alexander Holtz.
Here's Sweden's preliminary roster for the 2022 WJC in Edmonton. #WJC #WorldJuniors pic.twitter.com/QajRh1gOyD

— Uffe Bodin (@UffeBodin) June 21, 2022

Edvinsson collected two assists in two games during the winter tourney before it was called off. He will be coming to North America this fall after signing an entry-level contract with the Red Wings. There are great expectations that the player chosen sixth overall in the 2021 NHL entry draft can crack the Detroit lineup.

Niederbach, who will play for Rogle in the SHL in 2022-23, scored two goals in two games during the winter event. Detroit made him the 51st selection of the 2020 NHL entry draft.

Red Wings Prospect Wallinder Excited For Second Chance

Wallinder made no attempt to hide his disappointment when he was left off the Swedish squad last winter. Instead of pouting, he got down to business. The 32nd player chosen in the 2020 draft, Wallinder was skating top pairing minutes with Rogle as the club won the European Champions League and made a deep run in the SHL playoffs. The performance ended up earning him SHL Junior Player of the Year honors.

Monten took notice. “He has taken great strides in his defensive work,” Monten told Sportbladet.se of Wallinder’s play.

Wallinder wasn’t worrying about the past, expressing no hard feelings over last season’s exclusion from the Three Crowns lineup. He didn’t require any explanation from Monten.

“He thought I had taken big steps and I feel that too and I’m just happy to be selected,” Wallinder said. “It will be fun with my first world junior.”

They will be playing the IIHF World Junior Championship Aug. 9-20 in Edmonton.