The Red Wings opening night roster is a big question mark right now. But an even bigger question is- What are the Red Wings going to do with Simon Edvinsson?
The Detroit Red Wings have a revamped roster this year and therefore, the Red Wings team we see this season will be much different than recent years. Now, I know when I say that you probably think I’m referring to the free agents they signed. But I’m not.
Former first-round pick, and currently top prospect, Simon Edvinsson, has signed his entry-level contract after a productive season with Frolunda HC. Now he’s making the transition to the US and looking to make the Red Wings roster. But that idea does present a complicated situation for the Red Wings front office.
Not many players can make the move to the NHL and play year one. Or at least not excel. You look at guys like Alexis Lafreniere, Quinton Byfield, Nolan Patrick, Nico Hischier, and many more, they didn’t really hit their strides in the league until recently. And some of them still haven’t. But the one thing that would’ve benefited all of them greatly was to get some work in the AHL before making the move to the NHL. But this is also no regular player.
Simon Edvinsson wasn’t a riser in the draft, he was always considered the top defenseman. And now he’s ready to make the dream a reality. But does he actually have a chance to make the roster? Well, I think he does.
When looking at the Red Wings current roster, they have a lot of very talented players, but the weakest position still remains the defensive core. Between Moritz Seider, Filip Hronek, and Ben Chiarot, I’m not sold on the defense. That being said, they need a left-handed defenseman talented enough to be the counterpart to Hronek. I feel that’s what Edvinsson would be.
Looking at the opening night roster, your lineup is probably going to look something like this if Edvinsson isn’t in:
Ben Chiarot-Moritz Seider
Oli Mattaa-Filip Hronek
Jordan Oesterle-Gustav Lindstrom
Now, are you all comfortable playing this lineup in a daily basis knowing that Oesterle is definitely not in a position to be playing on a nightly basis? I mean, he’s fine, but there are 100% players that could better fill that spot like, I don’t know, Simon Edvinsson?
That’s why I feel that Edvinsson is almost a lock to make the roster to begin with. Or at the very least a 9-game trial. But what do you all think? Is he going to make the opening night roster?