If the Detroit Red Wings want to snap their decade-long playoff drought, they are going to need players to step up. Sure, there is talent on their roster, but they will need strong performances from some of the lesser-talked-about players in the lineup.
Guys who are under the radar, but burst onto the scene and cement themselves as a key piece. One of the best candidates to do that this season is defenseman Simon Edvinsson. But what makes him such an appealing breakout candidate, and how can it help the Wings this season?
How Simon Edvinsson can take the next step in 2026-27?
Edvinsson has been a fixture in the Red Wings lineup for the past few seasons. In 2025-26, he appeared in 72 games, logging nine goals and 16 assists for 25 points. He also delivered 94 hits, blocked 148 shots, and forced 26 takeaways. Sure, his point total dropped by six points from 2024-25, but with an increase in goals, hits, and blocked shots, it's not a concern. His advanced metrics are solid. According to Natural Stat Trick, he had a 48.02 CF%, a 45.92 SCF%, and a 48.54 xG%.
He has also demonstrated that he can handle top-pairing minutes. He has averaged over 20 minutes of ice time in each of the last two seasons. While the results have not always been there, he can hang with some of the best players in the NHL. As he has gotten more comfortable with the NHL speed, he has taken small steps in his game and has shown why the Red Wings drafted him sixth overall back during the 2021 NHL draft.
The two main areas that Edvinsson needs to improve are generating offense and creating turnovers. Sure, his defensive ability is the main part of his game. But if he is going to be a top-pairing defenseman, he has to be able to be a facilitator. Someone who can move the puck and find open teammates to set up scoring chances. He also had the second-most turnovers on the Wings last season, with 89. If he is going to be getting 20-plus minutes a night, he can not keep costing the Red Wings scoring chances.
But if his career trends have taught us anything, these should be issues he can work out. Over the past few seasons, we have seen Edvinsson's numbers improve. Sure, they were small improvements, but it's a step in the right direction. With all the experience he has had, the jump we see this season should be a big one. If he can get somewhere between 40 and 45 points and drop his turnovers by 15-20, it should be good enough to get the Red Wings a few more wins this season.
Now, sure, the Red Wings need to figure out his new contract first, as he is still a restricted free agent. But once they get that straightened out and he keeps developing as a player, it won't be long until he becomes a key piece of the Wings' core.
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