Former NHLer Hakan Loob compares Detroit Red Wings’ prospect to Lidstrom

Defenseman Simon Edvinsson has belonged to the Detroit Red Wings for only 44 days and already he’s being compared to a Hall of Fame performer.

During an intermission report of a televised Swedish game, former NHL player Hakan Loob compared Edvinsson to fellow Swede Nicklas Lidstrom.

“That’s greatness in a player. Hard to compare to Nicklas Lidstrom,” Loob said of Edvinsson. “But just the smooth style. Head up. Sees everyone else.

Edvidsson, 18, had made some nifty offensive moves in the first two periods. Another analyst was skeptical about the Lidstrom comparison. Loob admits the “road to being a Lidstrom is long and winding.”

Håkan Loob compares Simon Edvinsson to 'that' player. #LGRW pic.twitter.com/HC7YYjlQVq

— IcehockeyGifs (@IcehockeyG) September 2, 2021

“Most of all we can see how smooth (Edvinsson) despite being so big,” said Loob, who played for the Calgary Flames from 1983-89.

Edvinsson is 6-foot-4, 205 pounds. He is playing with Frolunda. Loob said Edvinsson is playing like  he’s think he could “maybe play in the NHL next year.”

Draft expert Russ Cohen’s assessment differs in terms of the Edvinsson’s time frame.

“(He) gets in the flow of the game well. His wrist shot is very accurate,” Cohen said. “The Swede is elusive up the ice and he’s very confident as a puck distributor on the power play. His skating is already very good. He has good physical strength that could improve and that’s why it will take him one more year in the SHL and then he’ll come over and start in the AHL and maybe play the entire season there or a portion of it before they call him up. ”

Cohen is a regular on NHL Network Radio. He also is owner of the Sportsology website and a contributor to EP Rinkside.