Edvinsson earning comparisons to Hedman in development for 2021 NHL Draft

The 2021 NHL Draft is scheduled to be held July 23-24. Every two weeks, NHL.com will take a closer look at some of the draft-eligible players to watch.

Simon Edvinsson has played 10 games for Frolunda in the Swedish Hockey League, but the 18-year-old defenseman already has earned some lofty praise.
"Simon is really talented, very tall but mobile, a smooth skater and has a great reach," Frolunda general manager Fredrik Sjostrom said. "There are similarities to (Tampa Bay Lightning defenseman) Victor Hedman ... he's a good two-way defenseman."
Edvinsson (6-foot-4, 198 pounds) is an A-rated skater on NHL Central Scouting's players to watch list for January and is No. 2 on NHL.com's list of the
Top 32 prospects for the 2021 NHL Draft
.
"I'm a two-way defenseman who always tries to find openings to create opportunities for my teammates or myself," Edvinsson said. "I like to think I read the game quite well and it feels like I've managed to adapt my game to new situations and new teams in a good way."
Hedman, in his 12th NHL season, won the Norris Trophy as the top defenseman in the NHL in 2018 and has been a finalist for the award the past four seasons. Last season he won the Conn Smythe Trophy as most valuable player of the Stanley Cup Playoffs while helping the Lightning win the Cup.
As an 18-year-old in 2008-09, he scored 21 points (seven goals, 14 assists) and averaged 21:16 of ice time in 43 games with Modo in the SHL, and played two games in Sweden's junior league. The Lightning selected Hedman with the No. 2 pick of the 2009 NHL Draft.
"[Edvinsson] is no different than any other 18-year-old," Sjostrom said. "He needs to get a bit stronger, but he's very calm with the puck and sees the ice great."
Edvinsson plays a confident game and knows how to use his size to his advantage in all three zones. And he's managed to keep that swagger despite playing on three different teams this season.
He's currently on loan with Vasteras in Allsvenskan, Sweden's second division, where he has four assists and is averaging 14:04 of ice time in six games.
Edvinsson began the season with Frolunda's team in Sweden's junior league and scored six points (one goal, five assists) in 14 games. But when that league canceled its season Jan. 8 due to concerns surrounding the coronavirus, he was promoted to play for Frolunda in the SHL. He had one assist, five shots on goal and averaged 5:48 of ice time in 10 games, and was loaned to Vasteras on Jan. 28.
He grew up playing hockey and soccer, but opted to play hockey full-time when he turned 15.
"It's exciting that this is my NHL draft-eligible season," he said. "I try not to think about it too much because a lot can happen before then. I'm a here-and-now person, focusing on my game and training, but (to be drafted) is a dream that might come true and I'm humbled by it all."

Prospects on the radar (listed alphabetically):

Florian Elias (5-8, 170), C, Mannheim (GER): The C-rated skater on NHL Central Scouting's players to watch list for January scored nine points (four goals, five assists) while averaging 22:48 in five games to help Germany finish sixth at the 2021 IIHF World Junior Championship, where he played on a line with Ottawa Senators rookie Tim Stutzle and Buffalo Sabres prospect John-Jason Peterka. Elias has scored four points (two goals, two assists) in 13 games with Mannheim of Deutsche Eishockey Liga, Germany's top professional league.
"Florian has decent speed, smooth hands and he is a very good playmaker with fine offensive instincts," NHL director of European scouting Goran Stubb said. "He's smart, makes good decisions and compensates for his lack of size with his vision and understanding of the game."
Scott Morrow (6-2, 198), D, Shattuck-St. Mary's Prep (HIGH-MN):One of the top high school players on the draft board, Morrow has scored 25 points (five goals, 20 assists) in 19 games for Shattuck-St. Mary's in Faribault, Minnesota. The right-shot defenseman, a B-rated skater, is committed to play at the University of North Dakota next season.
"Morrow has very good quickness and elusiveness with the puck, has a strong stride, and is quick in transition," Central Scouting's Greg Rajanen said. "He's got good vision in finding open teammates and is a very good decision-maker with the puck. He supports the rush well and is becoming a solid two-way defender."
Francesco Pinelli (6-0, 184), C, Kitchener (OHL): The A-rated skater has one assist in four games on loan with Jesenice of the Alps Hockey League. Last season he was fourth among Ontario Hockey League rookies with 41 points (18 goals, 23 assists) in 59 games with Kitchener.
"Francesco is an elite skater with top-end speed and is an excellent puck pursuit player," Central Scouting's Joey Tenute said. "He's got a great work ethic and a high compete level, and is a strong, 200-foot, reliable two-way player. He can make plays at top speed and contributes on the power play and penalty kill."
Ryan Ufko (5-10, 178), D, Chicago (USHL): The dynamic right-handed shot, a B-rated skater, is second among USHL defensemen with 29 points (eight goals, 21 assists) and first with 16 power-play points (three goals, 13 assists) in 30 games. Ufko is committed to play at the University of Massachusetts in 2022-23.
"He's an active, skill-type defender from the back end, quick and elusive and mobile with puck," Rajanen said. "He gets up and supports the rush well and has nice one-time ability. He's more of a contain-style defender and uses his partner well."
Photo credit: Christian Wahlgren, Frolunda
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