Detroit Red Wings place Alex Lyon on IR, call up Simon Edvinsson

One of the goaltenders in the Motor City will be out at least through the holiday weekend, while one of top defensive prospects is getting called back up to the NHL.

On Saturday, the Detroit Red Wings placed netminder Alex Lyon on injured reserve, as well as recalling defenseman Simon Edvinsson from their American Hockey League affiliate, the Grand Rapids Griffins.

Lyon has been out of the lineup since Dec. 16, when he injured his oblique making a save against the Philadelphia Flyers.

The Red Wings, who seemingly had great depth between the pipes carrying three goaltenders, lost Ville Husso for a few games after a lower-body injury two days later. The was then forced to sign Michael Hutchinson, who had just signed an AHL contract with the Griffins, to a one-year deal to call up him up to Detroit.

Lyon had been having a great season, despite coming into 2023-24 as the Wings’ No. 3 goalie, sitting behind Husso and James Reimer. In seven starts, the former Florida Panther was 4-3 with a 2.14 goals-against average and .932 save percentage.

With his injury retroactive to when he was hurt, Lyon is not able to return no sooner than after Christmas, with the Red Wings set to play the Minnesota Wild on Dec. 27.

The Red Wings will receive a youthful boost on the blueline, as 2021 sixth-overall pick, Simon Edvinsson, is rearing to go in his first call up this season. The former Frolunda product played nine games in Detroit to end last season, scoring a pair of goals. However, Edvinsson needed shoulder surgery in the offseason, and ended up starting the year in Grand Rapids.

The 6-foot-6 d-man has been an important piece on both ends of the rink with the Griffins. Edvinsson’s smooth skating and offensive prowess has led to him scoring six goals and 10 assists in 25 AHL games, sitting third on the team in scoring. His defensive game has also improved, but there is still room to grow for the 20-year-old.

The Red Wings (16-13-4), who are set to faceoff with the New Jersey Devils on Saturday night, have been slipping out of playoff contention with just three wins in their last 10 games. They are currently fifth in the Atlantic Division, two points out of a Wild Card spot.