Simon Edvinsson is turning heads with his play this season, forming an elite pairing with Red Wings’ number one defenseman, Moritz Seider. Edvinsson’s play has grown to near-elite levels in 2025-26, becoming the player the Red Wings envisioned when they selected the Swedish native with the sixth overall in 2021.
Through 48 games, Edvinsson has posted six goals and 11 assists, to go along with a plus-six rating, tied for the fourth best amongst all Red Wing skaters. Since becoming a pairing, Edvinsson and Seider have logged the fourth most minutes amongst all defensive pairings in the National Hockey League, being on for 31 goals for and only 21 against. The two have created the seventh most scoring chances amongst all pairings.
Seider’s play has earned himself a trip to represent Germany at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Italy. Dylan Larkin received the call for the United States of America, while Lucas Raymond will be playing for Sweden. Edvinsson’s play this season, to go along with mounting injuries to players from Sweden’s team, has opened the door for the 22-year-old to join Seider, Larkin and Raymond in competing for Olympic gold.
Edvinsson has represented Sweden on the national stage before, taking part in the 2022 World Juniors, where the former first-round pick posted two points across six games.
Injuries to Team Sweden open the door
Currently, William Nylander, Gabriel Landeskog, Leo Carlsson, Joel Eriksson Ek, Erik Karlsson, Victor Hedman and Jonas Brodin are all missing time due to various ailments, leaving seven of the 22 skaters named to the roster in January out of action.
Toronto Maple Leafs' defenseman Oliver Ekman-Larsson also left Wednesday night's tilt against the Red Wings with an apparent injury. With only three weeks left until Sweden opens their tournament against Italy, concern is starting to creep in on the availability of these players.
Michael Russo, who covers the Minnesota Wild for The Athletic, has reported that Brodin is out for the Olympics, while Sweden is also expecting to be without Anaheim Ducks forward Carlsson. Through 42 games, Brodin has posted three goals and 12 assists with a plus-13 rating, very similar to the numbers Edvinsson has posted in 2025-26.
Hedman was captain of the Swedish team at the Four Nations tournament last February but has yet to appear in a game since Dec. 9. In mid-December, Hedman underwent a procedure on the defenseman’s elbow and has yet to return to the Lightning lineup. In 18 games, Hedman has posted 12 assists with an even-rating. Both Brodin and Hedman are left-handed shots like Edvinsson.
Karlsson has been out of the lineup since Jan. 11, after suffering a lower-body injury against the Boston Bruins. On Jan.20, the 35-year-old returned to the ice, skating with the Penguins with the hopes of returning soon. In 44 games this season, Karlsson has recorded four goals and 29 assists to go with a minus-one rating.
The rest of the options for Team Sweden
The competition for Edvinsson to make the team would be Edmonton Oilers Mattias Ekholm, who was a part of the Four Nations team, John Klingberg of the San Jose Sharks, Hampus Lindholm of the Boston Bruins and Rasmus Sandin from the Washington Capitals.
Ekholm has posted three goals and 18 assists while being a plus-14 through 51 games, Klingberg has nine goals and eight assists with a minus-three rating in 36 games, Lindholm has totalled three goals and 12 assists to go with a minus-10 rating, and Sandin has recorded two goals, 14 assists and a plus-four rating through 45 games.
Edvinsson is the youngest defenseman of the group, but has taken the biggest step out of any of the players this season. The reach and size of Edvinsson could help neutralize opponents, especially when facing the best players in the world. As the standings sit on Jan. 21, the Red Wings have the most points out of any of the teams, which Edvinsson has played a key role in achieving.
With the season Edvinsson has put together, the Red Wings defenseman has given Swedish head coach Sam Hallam another strong option if players are unable to get healthy in time.