Simon Edvinsson isn’t just finding his game this season - he’s owning it. The 22-year-old Swedish defenseman has leveled up in a big way for the Detroit Red Wings, emerging as a legitimate top-pairing presence alongside Moritz Seider. Together, the duo has quietly become one of the most effective defensive pairings in the NHL, and Edvinsson is showing exactly why Detroit made him the sixth overall pick back in 2021.
Through 48 games this season, Edvinsson has chipped in six goals and 11 assists, while posting a plus-six rating - tied for fourth-best on the team. But the numbers only tell part of the story.
Since being paired with Seider, the two have logged the fourth-most minutes of any defensive duo in the league. They’ve been on the ice for 31 goals for and just 21 against, and they rank seventh among all pairings in scoring chances created.
That’s not just solid - that’s elite territory.
Seider’s strong play has already earned him a spot on Germany’s Olympic roster for the 2026 Winter Games in Italy. He won’t be the only Red Wing making the trip.
Dylan Larkin will suit up for Team USA, and Lucas Raymond is set to represent Sweden. Now, with a growing list of injuries plaguing the Swedish roster, Edvinsson is knocking on the door for an Olympic nod of his own.
It wouldn’t be his first time wearing the Tre Kronor. Edvinsson played for Sweden at the 2022 World Juniors, where he tallied two points in six games. But this would be a major leap - from promising prospect to potential Olympian in just a few seasons.
Right now, Sweden’s blue line is in flux. William Nylander, Gabriel Landeskog, Leo Carlsson, Joel Eriksson Ek, Erik Karlsson, Victor Hedman, and Jonas Brodin are all dealing with injuries.
That’s seven of the 22 skaters named to the January roster currently sidelined. And the hits keep coming - Oliver Ekman-Larsson left Wednesday’s game against the Red Wings with an apparent injury, adding more uncertainty with just three weeks until Sweden opens its tournament against Italy.
According to reports, Brodin is already ruled out for the Olympics, and Carlsson is also expected to miss the tournament. Brodin’s numbers this season - three goals, 12 assists, and a plus-13 rating - stack up closely with Edvinsson’s.
Hedman, who captained Sweden at the Four Nations tournament last February, hasn’t played since undergoing elbow surgery in mid-December. He’s still working his way back, and his status remains unclear.
In 18 games this season, Hedman has 12 assists and an even rating.
Karlsson, meanwhile, has been out since January 11 with a lower-body injury. He returned to the ice on January 20 for a light skate with the Penguins, but it’s still up in the air whether he’ll be ready in time. In 44 games this season, the 35-year-old defenseman has posted four goals and 29 assists, though he carries a minus-one rating.
If Sweden’s top names aren’t available, head coach Sam Hallam will have some decisions to make. The other defensemen in the mix include Mattias Ekholm (Edmonton), John Klingberg (San Jose), Hampus Lindholm (Boston), and Rasmus Sandin (Washington).
Ekholm has been steady with three goals, 18 assists, and a plus-14 rating in 51 games. Klingberg has shown flashes of offense with nine goals and eight assists in 36 games, but carries a minus-three.
Lindholm has had a tougher go, with a minus-10 rating despite 15 points in 51 games. Sandin, meanwhile, has two goals and 14 assists with a plus-four rating.
Among that group, Edvinsson stands out - not just because he’s the youngest, but because his game has taken the biggest leap this season. His reach, skating, and poise under pressure make him a natural fit for the international stage, especially against the world’s top talent. He’s been a major reason why the Red Wings currently sit atop the NHL standings, and his growth into a reliable, two-way defenseman has been one of the season’s most encouraging developments for Detroit.
If Sweden needs reinforcements, Edvinsson has made a strong case to be the next man up. His play speaks for itself - and it’s saying he’s ready for the spotlight.