Detroit must extend Edvinsson now to anchor future blue line

Simon Edvinsson scored nine goals and 25 points in 72 games in 2025-26 while recovering from two knee surgeries.

Edvinsson’s rapid rise alongside Seider

Detroit drafted Edvinsson sixth overall in 2021. He completed his second full NHL season at age 23 after two knee operations. The 6-foot-6 Swede posted nine goals including two game-winners with almost no power-play time. His 53 even-strength points over two seasons sit one behind Moritz Seider’s 54 in 14 fewer games. The pair formed Detroit’s top pairing immediately. Edvinsson credited Seider for easing his adjustment and accelerating his growth. The Wings went 8-4-0 in October and held first place in the Atlantic Division by mid-December. Late-January surgery forced Edvinsson out for seven games during which Detroit posted a 2-3-2 record. He returned after the Olympic break to help push for the playoffs. The team finished with 92 points, its best total in a decade, yet missed the postseason for the tenth straight year.

Injury resilience and two-way impact

Edvinsson underwent right-knee surgery before the season after winning bronze at the 2025 World Championship. He returned for the final two preseason games and played 72 regular-season contests. A second knee issue in late January required another operation. Despite playing below full health, Edvinsson remained a top-pair shutdown defender and key penalty killer. He contrasted his situation with the reality that no player competes at 100 percent. His even-strength production nearly matched Seider’s while adding size and reach on the left side. General manager Steve Yzerman rejected trade packages that would have sent Edvinsson to Vancouver for Quinn Hughes last winter, confirming his core status.

Contract timing and roster implications

Edvinsson’s entry-level deal expired after 2025-26. Negotiations continued into July with the team viewing him as a long-term cornerstone alongside Seider and Lucas Raymond. Edvinsson expressed frustration over the playoff miss and stressed the need to solve the postseason puzzle. His development curve outpaces historical Red Wings prospects who often overripened in the minors. Extending him now prevents salary escalation once he reaches arbitration eligibility. Failure to sign him risks losing a 222-pound two-way presence that complements Seider’s Norris-level play. Historical precedent shows Lidstrom required years to reach peak performance after being passed over in his first draft year. Edvinsson has already delivered elite minutes at a younger age.

Detroit’s young core has taken root since Yzerman’s 2019 return. Locking the Swedish defender secures the left side of the top pair for the next decade.