NHL Draft Prospect Profile: Simon Edvinsson

Sabres.com is profiling some of the top available prospects in the days leading up to the 2021 NHL Draft which begins with Round 1 on Friday, July 23 at 8 p.m. The Sabres hold the No. 1 pick.
Simon Edvinsson, LHD - Frolunda (SHL) / Vasteras IK (Allsvenskan) 6-foot-4, 198 pounds 2020-21: 10 GP, 0 G, 1 A, 1 P (SHL) / 14 GP, 0 G, 5 A, 5 P (Allsvenskan)

Edvinsson is a product of Frolunda, the same Swedish organization that produced Victor Olofsson and Rasmus Dahlin. He is ranked second among European skaters by NHL Central Scouting Services behind forward William Eklund.
Edvinsson is touted for high-end skill and skating that makes for a unique package when combined with his 6-foor-4, 198-pound frame. He was an offensive contributor for Sweden at the U-18 World Championship, where he tallied four points (1+3) in seven games en route to a gold medal.
He also received pro experience after beginning the season with Frolunda's J20 team, where he tallied six points (1+5) in 14 games before the league paused due to COVID-19. That forced a promotion to the SHL club, where he averaged just 5:48 in ice time over his 10 appearances.
Edvinsson was loaned to Vasteras IK of HockeyAllsvenskan, Sweden's second-tier pro league, to finish out the season and tallied five assists in 14 games. His average ice time increased to 13:48.

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What they're saying

NHL Director of European Scouting Goran Stubb to NHL.com on why Edvinsson is the best European defenseman available:
"I don't know if there's anyone close. I think this is a player who could be the next world star coming out of Sweden. He's really, really good. Has the size and the speed and the hockey sense. He's a leader, and I think he was probably the best 2021 NHL Draft-eligible prospect at the Under-18 World Championship."
An anonymous evaluator to NHL.com on why they would select Edvinsson over fellow defenseman Luke Hughes:
"I just think [Edvinsson's] hockey sense is off the charts. The skating's there, the size is there. I just think the way he's able to process the game, whether it's a play coming at him or him carrying the play the other way, he's just able to process it on a different level."

What he's saying

On his plans for next season:
"That's the question I get a lot, what's the plans for next year? The plan right now is to play with Frolunda and play for them the whole season out. I don't know what the team that drafts me says but I'm pretty open, actually. But I want to play in Frolunda right now."
On why he looks up to Hall of Fame defenseman Nicklas Lidstrom:
"He's a legend here in Sweden and I think every defender here is Sweden knows who he are. He's a terrific guy. He's an easy player that makes great effort for the team. I think that's what every defender wants to achieve, being there for the team and to play easy, to be strong, aggressive and win 1-on-1 duels, to be harder to play against. That's what I like about him."