Detroit Red Wings defenseman Simon Edvinsson is out with a lower-body injury until at least the Olympic break. Here’s what it means for the Wings’ blue line and Atlantic Division race.
The Detroit Red Wings have been one of the NHL’s healthiest teams all season, but that good fortune finally took a hit.
According to a report from the Detroit Free Press, defenseman Simon Edvinsson is dealing with a lower-body injury and will be out of the lineup at least until the Olympic break, which is still five games away. The Wings return home Tuesday, Jan. 27, to host the Los Angeles Kings at Little Caesars Arena, but they’ll have to do it without one of their most important blue-line anchors.
Edvinsson has quietly become a pillar of Detroit’s defense. The 22-year-old ranks second on the team in average ice time and has been a major reason the Wings have stayed steady defensively while pushing near the top of the Atlantic Division.
“He’s a pretty significant piece of the lineup,” head coach Todd McLellan said. “He’s a significant piece but we have others that are going to have to go in and play, and they have—they’ve done that already for a couple of games and done an admirable job.”
Detroit enters this stretch at 32-16-5, fresh off a 2-0-1 road trip that netted five big points as they continue a tight race with the Tampa Bay Lightning for first place in the division. Losing Edvinsson isn’t ideal, especially with the schedule tightening and the trade deadline approaching, but the Wings have shown depth and resilience all season.
Through 48 games, Edvinsson has posted six goals and 11 assists, but his real value goes beyond the scoresheet. He’s been a stabilizing presence on the top pair, matching up against elite forwards nightly and driving play with his skating and reach.
For now, Detroit will lean on its depth and hope the injury is more precautionary than long-term. With the Wings firmly in the playoff picture and eyeing a deep run, getting Edvinsson healthy for the stretch drive is far more important than rushing him back in January.
The post Detroit Red Wings Reveal Unfortunate Simon Edvinsson Injury Update appeared first on Detroit Sports Nation.
Category: General Sports
