This week has been a whirlwind of emotions for Simon Edvinsson, the young defenseman for the Detroit Red Wings. He played in his first NHL game, with his family flying in from Sweden to witness it all, and just three games into his career, he scored his first NHL goal with his family in the building to cheer him on.

Despite getting on the scoresheet for the first time, Edvinsson was unhappy with his overall performance. He commented, “That might be one of the ugliest first goals in Detroit’s history. I feel I took two penalties. I wasn’t good enough.”

While it’s understandable for Edvinsson to be hard on himself, it’s inspiring to see a young prospect hold himself accountable and show maturity beyond his years.

He recognizes that it’s not always about the scoresheet, but about the result at the end of the game. It’s exciting to see this level of dedication and self-awareness from a promising player like Edvinsson, as we look forward to watching him grow and succeed in his career.

Fans saw what scouts wrote about Edvinsson before the draft:

“Edvinsson is a detailed defender with high-level in-zone instincts, a tight neutral zone gap, well-timed physicality, and supporting instincts to match. He manoeuvres with the puck kept in his hip pocket, with his top hand in control, free from his body. With a smooth and gracious skating stride scaffolded on top of those mechanical handling skills, Edvinsson’s tools sometimes take him to rarified air as a puck-carrier.”

Coaches Comments on Edvinsson

Red Wings Head Coach Derek Lalonde commented on Simon’s performance and highlighted the positives that came with his third NHL game. “I loved that he got on the sheet. He made some plays offensively. I still think his game was good in that he was avoiding some big mistakes. Loved some of his plays in transition, seeing quick up the ice like that. Tonight was another positive step for him.”

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