Welcome back to Top Shelf Prospects, the daily column that brings you the next crop of professional hockey players. Each day I will bring you a new player profile or topical article in the lead-up to the 2021 NHL Draft. Be sure to bookmark the site, follow me on Twitter, and spread the word for the site that will bring you analytical and critical profiles and scouting reports! Last Word On Hockey Prospects is your new headquarters for everything “NHL Draft”! We have a complete listing of our draft articles here. Today we bring you our Simon Edvinsson Scouting Report.
Defenceman Simon Edvinsson spent the season bouncing around Swedish leagues. Signed with Frolunda, he got in 10 regular-season games and 1 playoff game in the SHL, putting up one assist. Loaned to Vasteras in the Allsvenskan, he had more success, with five assists in 14 regular-season games and a goal and two assists for three points in six playoff games. Edvinsson also played 14 games for Frolunda’s junior team in the J20, putting up a goal and five assists for six points. He is now set to join Team Sweden for the IIHF Under-18 World Championships.
In 2019-20 Edvinsson put up six points in eight games in the J20. He also played 19 games in the J18, scoring four goals and 16 assists for 20 points in that time. He also put up two assists in his only playoff game before the COVID crisis forced the league to shut down. Edvinsson was also a star for Team Sweden at the Under-17 World Hockey Challenge, scoring five points in five tournament games.
Simon Edvinsson Scouting Report
Defence — shoots Left
Born February 5th, 2003 — Onsala, Sweden
Height 6’4″ — Weight 203 lbs [193 cm / 92 kg]
Skating
It is rare to find a prospect who is both 6-foot-4 and has the skating ability that Edvinsson possesses. He has a long, smooth stride that allows him to cover a lot of ground very quickly. His legs are powerful and he accelerates quickly. Edvinsson also moves quickly when skating backwards. This allows him to take offensive chances and still get back defensively. His edgework and agility are also very good. Edvinsson can make quick cuts with the puck. It also helps him to stay with attackers and maintain gap control. Edvinsson pivots are crisp and he transitions quickly from offence to defence and vice-versa. He skates with good leg bend and has a low centre of gravity. This helps him to be strong on the puck and win battles on the boards. As he continues to add muscle to his frame, this should only improve.
Offensive Game
Edvinsson combines his good skating ability with excellent hands. This allows him to avoid forecheckers and move the puck out of the defensive zone. It also helps him to transition the puck through the neutral zone and effectively enter the offensive zone. His first pass is strong and he can also use this to start the rush and join as a trailer. He can even make a long breakaway pass if one of his teammates gets behind the defence. Edvinsson can control the puck in the offensive zone. His lateral agility allows him to walk the line and create passing and shooting lanes. Quick hands also help him to find openings to set up a teammate for a scoring chance. He shows good vision and a strong hockey IQ to anticipate how plays will develop.
Edvinsson needs some work on his shot to truly reach the next level from an offensive perspective. His slap shot and one-timer lack power and accuracy. His wrist shot is decent but not overpowering. He is better off when he sneaks to the top of the circles and uses the wrist shot. Edvinsson gets his wrist shot off quickly with a good release. An improved shot may come as he continues to add muscle to his frame, but it will likely never be a strength for him.
Defensive Game
Edvinsson has a decent defensive game but there are still some areas where he can use some improvement. His strong backwards skating and his agility allow him to defend well against the rush. He does a good job of keeping attackers to the outside and using his stick to knock pucks away. He is a bit passive at times in defending against the cycle though and could stand to use his size and power a bit more. Edvinsson does a good job of being in the right positions though, and again using his stick to cut down passing and shooting lanes. He can get the puck out of the defensive zone and transition up the ice.
Projection and Comparison
Edvinsson’s combination of size, skill, and skating ability gives him a very high ceiling. He could become a top-pairing defender at the next level. There are areas of his game that need improvement, including his shot and his defensive game though. His game is still a bit raw and he will likely need more time in Sweden or the AHL before he is ready to make an impact at the NHL level. The raw traits here are very intriguing though, and with good coaching and development the team that drafts him could have a real gem. Edvinsson’s game is reminiscent of Oliver Ekman-Larsson, however, this is a stylistic comparison only and not one based on skill and ability.
Highlights
The following is a compilation of some of the highlight packages and features of Simon Edvinsson that are available on youtube.
Check back tomorrow for the next prospect on our draft board.
Simon Edvinsson Scouting Report Main Photo:
Grabbarna är redo. Från vänster: Simon Edvinsson, Ludwig Persson. pic.twitter.com/e9PI1jd1kN
— Frölunda Indians (@frolunda_hc) November 19, 2020
