Detroit Red Wings: Simon Edvinsson making the roster is not a certainty

If you were to ask me if Simon Edvinsson would make the Detroit Red Wings roster about two months ago, I would have said with the utmost confidence, “100% yes.” Now, after free agency and some shakeup amongst the roster, things may not feel the same.

It still seems like the Detroit Red Wings will make a silly move if they do not bring Simon Edvinsson with them out of training camp, but there might be more at play here than it seems off the top.

First of all, in terms of personnel, the Red Wings have seven defensemen who are on NHL contracts that are not Edvinsson. Eight if you count Jared McIsaac as listed on CapFriendly, though he has not yet played an NHL game, so it’s unlikely he beats out Edvinsson for a spot.

It was rumored that Gustav Lindstrom’s time in Detroit had ended, and he was heading back to Sweden, but he has since flipped the script on that and ended up re-signing with the team to join the defense core. That ups the number and makes it less of a slam dunk for Edvinsson.

This comes on top of the off-season additions of players like Justin Holl and Shayne Gostisbehere, who are both expected to be great signings in their own regard. But, again, it makes it harder to assume Edvinsson will break camp with the team right away.

Detroit Red Wings defender Simon Edvinsson has to earn his roster spot.

Let’s be honest; it’s still a very likely decision to be made. Edvinsson will likely don the no.77 (new number alert) jersey this fall, logging minutes with Detroit. But, with the personnel “logjam,” it makes things harder to assume.

Plus, in typical Red Wings fashion, the team is not guaranteeing Edvinsson a spot with the Red Wings. He has to come into training camp and impress Steve Yzerman and company across the front office and coaching staff as they build their roster with the finishing touches.

If Edvinsson can come in and turn some heads, impressing during training camp, he will be more of a lock to join the Red Wings in 2023-24. It will play out similarly to how the Red Wings treated Lucas Raymond when he came over to North America.

He was not awarded a spot but had to impress in training camp. If not, he would be sent to Grand Rapids to start the season. Raymond earned his spot and was really fun to watch in center, translating that into a fun rookie campaign.

While Edvinsson has already made his debut, playing out his nine-game stint in the NHL last season. He scored two goals and picked up his first two points as an NHL defender. So it’s not that he cannot play in an NHL defense core; the Red Wings are just making him earn it before the fall kicks off.

So, while it’s highly likely that Edvinsson breaks camp with the Red Wings, he will have to earn his roster spot in 2023-24.