Detroit Red Wings recall top prospect Simon Edvinsson

The Detroit Red Wings have officially recalled their top defense prospect, Simon Edvinsson, from the Grand Rapids Griffins ahead of their final game before the holiday break. Edvinsson enjoyed a cup of coffee with Detroit last season, appearing in nine games. He totaled two goals and was a minus-7 during that stretch but did not look out of place or overmatched. At times, the slender 6-foot-6 defender appeared calm, cool and collected as a top NHL defender.

If you recall, he and Moritz Seider confronted the ultra pest, Michael Bunting, in a contest against the Toronto Maple Leafs, where he appeared to spit at Edvinsson's shinpads or skates. The two young defenders skated toward Bunting, bickering following the whistle as Bunting quickly retreated. If you were wondering, Bunting signed in Carolina this past off-season as a free agent and has totaled seven goals and 22 points over 32 games.

The Detroit Red Wings have recalled Simon Edvinsson from the Grand Rapids Griffins.

Edvinsson has recorded six goals and 16 points this season for the Griffins over 25 games. He's also tallied 20 penalty minutes and is a minus-3 this season. Edvinsson and Albert Johansson have been the top two defenders in Grand Rapids to keep tabs on; both appear to have a future with the Red Wings, but it's Edvinsson who gets another look for the time being. Edvinsson gets the call a day after head coach Derek Lalonde made top-pairing and got defenseman Jake Walman a healthy scratch. Detroit has struggled mightily defensively of late. On Friday night at home against the Flyers, the Detroit Red Wings allowed a four-goal lead to slip away and were extremely fortunate to win in a shootout. A two-goal lead used to be the 'worst' in hockey, but with how much scoring occurs now in the modern day, Detroit is finding out that a four-goal lead is also not safe. Earlier this year, the Red Wings blew a four-goal lead to the measly San Jose Sharks.

Veteran defenseman Olli Maatta was injured in Friday's contest after being on the receiving end of a huge hit, clean; I may add, at the blue line from gritty Flyers forward Garnet Hathaway. Maatta was shaken up on the play and could not return for Detroit. Following the game, Lalonde ruled Maatta out for Detroit's tilt in New Jersey on Saturday.

The Red Wings have placed goaltender Alex Lyon on Injured Reserve retroactive to December 16th to make room for Edvinsson on the active roster. Detroit did not recall Edvinsson to scratch him, so either Walman is day-to-day and unable to go, or someone like Justin Holl or Jeff Petry is coming out of the lineup on Saturday. The alternative is going with 11 forwards and seven defenders, as Lalonde has done numerous times throughout the year. Still, regardless, as Red Wings fans, we will get another look at Edvinsson with Detroit, which is an early present in itself.