Detroit Red Wings prospect Simon Edvinsson will not join Sweden for the World Junior Championships
One of the NHL’s top prospects won’t be heading to the 2023 World Juniors.
The Swedish junior national team released its roster for the upcoming Junior World Cup, with reporter Uffe Bodin reporting that Detroit Red Wings prospect Simon Edvinsson has declined the invitation to join.
Edvinsson, 19, has spent the season with the AHL’s Grand Rapids Griffins and has recorded nine points in 15 games so far. He represented Sweden at this summer’s WJC but did not seem to play at the level most expected. The Red Wings opted to send him down to the minors where he could play top line minutes while surrounded by veterans, and it’s a move that has been well received so far.
The big 6-foot-6 defenseman has the makings of a top-pairing defenseman at the NHL level. He moves well for his size, thinks the game at a high level and carries the puck as well as anyone in the age group. He has adjusted to the North American pro game quite well and should factor into Detroit’s plans next year with more spice and consistency.
The Swedes will be without Winnipeg Jets prospect Elias Salomonsson and San Jose Sharks draft pick Mattias Havelid due to injuries as well, so it will be a little depleted. They will still have four NHL draft prospects in Elias Pettersson (Vancouver), Calle Odelius (New York Islanders), Adam Engström (Montreal) and Ludvig Jansson (Florida), as well as 2023 draft prospect Axel Sandin-Pellikka. Up front, Sweden will have top prospects Fabian Lysell (Boston), Isak Rosen (Buffalo), Liam Ohgren (Minnesota), Noah Ostlund and potential top five pick Leo Carlsson in 2023.
Sweden will look to build on the team’s bronze medal in 2022 when they open camp on Dec. 14 in Canada. Sweden last won gold in 2012 and has won silver three times and bronze twice in the past decade.