In a statement, Red Wings interim GM Shawn Horcoff said that the club will continue conversations with unsigned D Simon Edvinsson, who remains a restricted free agent.
One of the major storylines facing the Detroit Red Wings as the 2026-27 NHL season rapidly approaches is the status of defenseman Simon Edvinsson, who remains a restricted free agent without a contract.
The good news is that Edvinsson participated in on-ice drills during Training Camp, though he did not take part in any scrimmages. The bad news is that he did not appear in a single preseason game and remains unsigned, with the start of the regular season now just over 96 hours away at the time of writing.
And the latest update from the club doesn't make it sound as though a contract being in place by Friday evening is a sure thing.
In a statement released to members of the Detroit media, interim general manager Shawn Horcoff said the club will continue discussions with the Swedish blue liner and his representation.
"As of today, Simon is not practicing with the team," Horcoff's statement read. "The organization will continue conversations with Simon and his representatives.”
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In August, Edvinsson's agent Peter Werner said via the Swedish publication Expressen, that they were "patiently waiting" for Detroit's management situation to be resolved:
"We are waiting patiently for a new general manager, says Edvinsson's agent, Peter Werner, to Expressen".
The Red Wings announced on September 15 that Horcoff, who had served as Detroit's assistant general manager and general manager of its AHL affiliate, the Grand Rapids Griffins, would assume the interim role vacated by Steve Yzerman.
During his introductory press conference the next day, Horcoff referred to Edvinsson as a "bright spot" for the club and that getting a new contract signed was a "priority".
"Obviously, that's a priority for us," Horcoff said. "Simon is a fantastic player and a bright spot in our organization. We're going to get to work on that contract as soon as we can and hopefully have something done here shortly."
But two weeks later, Edvinsson, who emerged as Detroit's second-best defenseman behind Moritz Seider, remains without a contract and therefore ineligible to play.
This, combined with the uncertainty surrounding Dylan Larkin's status with the organization, has left a sense of uncertainty surrounding a franchise that now owns the NHL's longest active postseason drought.
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