Detroit Red Wings prospect Simon Edvinsson won’t join Sweden for World Junior Championship

One of the NHL’s top prospects won’t be heading to the 2023 World Junior Championship.

The Swedish junior national team released its roster for the upcoming World Junior Championship, with reporter Uffe Bodin indicating 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, recording nine points in 15 games so far. He represented Sweden at the summer WJC but didn’t seem to play to the level most expected. The Red Wings elected to send him down to the minors where he could play top-line minutes while surrounded by veterans, and it’s a move that’s been well-received so far.

The big, 6-foot-6 defender 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 nicely and should factor into Detroit’s plans next year with more seasoning 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 the roster will be a bit depleted. They’ll still have four NHL draft prospects in Elias Pettersson (Vancouver), Calle Odelius (New York Islanders), Adam Engstrom (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 2023 top five pick Leo Carlsson.

Sweden will look to build upon the team’s bronze medal in 2022 when they open camp Dec. 14 in Canada. Sweden last won gold back in 2012, winning silver three times and bronze twice over the past decade.