Originally posted on Detroit Hockey Now | By Bob Duff | Last updated 7/17/24
For Detroit Red Wings defenseman Simon Edvinsson, the summer is about tipping the Toledos and taking his offensive game to the next level.
Back home in Kungsbacka, Sweden, Edvinsson, 21, is going full bore in his preparations for the 2024-25 season, which will be his first full campaign in the NHL.
The sixth player chosen in the 2021 NHL entry draft believes that his 16-game stint with the Red Wings, mostly coming at the end of the 2023-24 season, was putting on display the fact that he’s fully made the transition into being an effective player on the smaller North American ice surface.
”I like the small ice and I’m starting to get a grip on things,” Edvinsson explained to writer Christian Johansson of Swedish media outlet Norra Halland. “I feel great because I know what I need to work on to grow my game.”
Red Wings Edvinsson Winning Mental Game
Edvinsson felt much different in the NHL last season than he did the previous season. That was during a nine-game stint in Detroit.
”I was more ready,” he said. “I knew what I was getting into. When I got called up I had a confidence I didn’t have the first season.”
He’s of the opinion that a big step in that direction was in learning how to deal with and overcome the mental blocks that often hinder young players making the adjustment to the NHL.
”About 80-85% is the mental side,” Edvinsson said. “Being in the present. With the right frame of mind playing becomes easy.”
He expects to be carrying 220 pounds on his 6-foot-6 frame by the fall. And Edvinsson also believes he’s got much more to give in terms of making offensive contributions to the team. That could prove vital, considering the Red Wings lost 22 goals from the defense. Edvinsson could pick up the slack for the departures of Jake Walman (12 goals) and Shayne Gostisbehere (10).
All together , Edvinsson’s approach is paralleling what the Red Wings are anticipating that he’ll be bringing to the ice next season.
“We’re expecting Simon to play a bigger role,” Detroit GM Steve Yzerman said.