Simon Edvinsson, Buy or Sell next year?
- David Buckley
- Jul 23
- 2 min read
Simon Edvinsson, born February 5, 2003, in Kungsbacka, Sweden, was drafted sixth overall in the 2021 NHL Entry Draft by the Detroit Red Wings. At 6-foot-6, his size, skating, and two-way play draw comparisons to elite defensemen like Victor Hedman, making his first full NHL season in 2024-25 a key milestone.
Season Performance
In 2024-25, Edvinsson played 78 games, scoring 7 goals and adding 24 assists for 31 points, with a +12 plus/minus rating. His defensive contributions included 144 blocked shots and 86 hits, ranking him among the top 40 NHL defensemen for blocks. He averaged 21:07 of ice time per game, often paired with Moritz Seider or Jeff Petry, and spent 1:45 per game on the penalty kill.
Fantasy Hockey Value
Edvinsson’s stats make him a mid-tier fantasy defenseman, especially in multi-category leagues valuing hits, blocks, and plus/minus. His 31 points align with a projected 45-50 point peak. There have been some key departures from the Red Wings' depth chart this offseason, and the additions are more of the stay-at-home variety. If Axel Sandin-Pellikka cracks the lineup, he might slot into the PP2, but often it’s a position earned through other facets of a player’s game, not just offense. Simon could very well slide into some PP2 time on top of his robust 21 minutes a game.
(In the video you can see his hockey IQ, and ability to straddle the blue line and handle the puck under pressure)
In fantasy circles, Edvinsson is often labeled as "better in real life" than in fantasy, which is currently up for debate. He wasn’t exactly innovative with the puck or an above-average puck mover from his own zone, but he did show poise with the puck in the offensive zone. Simon also has a massive shot, emphasized by his huge frame. Beyond his slap shot, he has a very accurate wrist shot if he finds space to shoot. Averaging 21 minutes at his age is nothing to scoff at, and while there’s always a fear of overvaluing lottery picks in the fantasy community, there’s a world where Simon could have a 50+ point season. His fantasy value is likely more suited to banger leagues and multi-category leagues, where his blocks and hits are a bonus on top of his point projection. With the mass exodus of defensemen from the Red Wings and the trust earned from the head coach, I’m giving a buy rating on Simon heading into next season.
(Simon being very aggressive and showing some patience before releasing a wrister in close)
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