The Detroit Red Wings are continuing to close out their season with a baker’s dozen games left after the Avalanche took it to them on Saturday. But, the good news out of Saturday’s game was that Simon Edvinsson was able to make his NHL debut and log his first NHL game wearing the winged wheel uniform.
His first NHL game treated the Detroit Red Wings prospect defender to his first two-penalty minutes. But all-in-all, he got it done for the Red Wings, settled in nicely, and got his feet under him.
Edvinsson laid a few hits in his NHL debut, played a shade over 15:30 in shifts, and found ways to get involved. It was a productive first game for the Swedish defender. But the reason that Edvinsson is up with the Red Wings in the first place is due to injuries.
Ben Chiarot is out with an upper-body injury and will continue to miss time as the Red Wings finish up the 2022-23 season. Before Edvinsson was even called up, the Red Wings announced that Chiarot is week-to-week as he deals with the injury.
Derek Lalonde says Red Wings D Ben Chiarot is week-to-week with upper-body injury. Hasn't decided if anybody will be called up, still have six D available.
— Helene St. James (@HeleneStJames) March 16, 2023
With just 13 games left on the schedule, it could mean that Edvinsson gets a handful of them under his belt before Chiarot returns or Edvinsson is returned to Grand Rapids.
Detroit Red Wings are leaning on Simon Edvinsson in Ben Chiarot’s absence.
While Chiarot is not near a return and will miss time as the Red Wings push on, plenty of fans will be just fine with it, as Edvinsson’s call-up has been exciting. Chiarot’s first year of his big contract has been underwhelming.
Chiarot signed a four-year deal with a $4.75 million AAV, and his first season has been a bit underwhelming. Even as a defensive defender, it was a bit underwhelming. Chiarot being out sucks, as no one wants players to be hurt, but it seems that the Red Wings want to see what Edvinsson can do.
Giving Edvinsson a few chances with the NHL club seems to be a part of the Yzerplan. It will be interesting to see what happens, but the Red Wings will lean on Edvinsson in the next game or two to see what he’s got.
In his debut, he was paired alongside Robert Hagg, and as OT Co-Expert Bob Heyrman suggested in the postgame article from Saturday, playing him with Olli Määtta seemed like the better option.
It will be interesting to see how the Red Wings use him, but they are set to keep Edvinsson up with the NHL club as Chiarot remains out.