NHL Insider Says Trade Talks Picking Up Around Red Wings' RFA Simon Edvinsson

On Monday, Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman appeared on the FAN Hockey Show and provided a new update on the situation between the Detroit Red Wings and restricted free agent defenseman Simon Edvinsson. 

The 23-year-old has reportedly grown tired of the organization and the prolonged delay in getting a new contract, having been eligible for over a year. It sounds increasingly like Detroit is looking to move on from the issue and potentially trade the sixth overall pick from 2021. 

"There's a lot of interest in Simon Edvinsson," Friedman said, noting that Detroit is asking a fairly high price. He added that he thinks "the talks there are really picking up."

Friedman also spoke about Edvinsson and Detroit's other player on the way out, center Dylan Larkin, on Saturday during Rogers Saturday Night Hockey.

"The Red Wings continue to take calls on both players; we have heard...they have been asking about young centers either in the NHL or not yet there," Friedman said on his Saturday Headlines segment.

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Several clubs have reportedly shown interest in Edvinsson, including the St. Louis Blues, Philadelphia Flyers, Utah Mammoth, Toronto Maple Leafs and Boston Bruins, and each has some intriguing pieces Detroit could target. 

The Blues have Dalibor Dvorský, a top-ten pick in 2023, while the Flyers have a pair of young center prospects in Jack Berglund and Jett Luchanko. The Mammoth could offer marquee center prospects Ethan Belchetz and Caleb Desnoyers. 

The Maple Leafs are not deep at center but have top-six forward Easton Cowen and center prospect Tinus Luc Koblar. The Bruins may have the most options of all, with Fraser Minten, Dean Letourneau and Dans Ločmelis.

Detroit has plenty of options, and acquiring a reliable forward in return could also help open up the team’s defensive rotation, creating more opportunities for players who aren’t seeing regular minutes, such as Axel Sandin-Pellikka.

The Red Wings still have time to reach a decision, but Edvinsson must sign a new contract before the December 1 deadline for restricted free agents. Otherwise, he would be ineligible to play for the remainder of the season. If Detroit cannot reach an agreement by then, it could mark the beginning of the end for Edvinsson’s time with the organization.

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