Deadline For Unsigned Red Wings' D Simon Edvinsson Getting Closer By The Day

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As the Detroit Red Wings wrap up their four-game road trip Monday night against former head coach Mike Babcock and the Edmonton Oilers, the deadline for RFA defenseman Simon Edvinsson continues to inch closer.

Edvinsson has emerged as Detroit's second-most important defenseman behind Moritz Seider, yet he remains unsigned 11 games into the 2026-27 season.

Edvinsson must sign a contract with Detroit (or another team if the Red Wings trade his rights) by the afternoon of Dec. 1. Otherwise, he will be ineligible to play for the remainder of the season.

Recently, NHL Insider Elliotte Friedman reported that the Red Wings are "disappointed and surprised" that they've not been able to make any headway with Edvinsson, who is back in North America and recently met with interim GM Shawn Horcoff in person. 

"I think they're a little bit disappointed about how they haven't been able to budge Edvinsson to this point," Friedman said on his recent '32 Thoughts' podcast. "I think they're a bit disappointed and surprised." 

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Edvinsson reported to Training Camp last month despite not having a contract in hand, and participated in on-ice drills with his teammates sans scrimmages.

But once the preseason began and he still didn't have a contract, his frustration reached a point where he returned to his native Sweden - a move that Horcoff said that he didn't anticipate. 

"I didn't expect that," Horcoff said on Oct. 2. "We were excited when he came over, it was encouraging. I would say that's not that common, so we were excited when he came here.

Of course it's disappointing when he went back, but, he's a priority for us."

The fact that Edvinsson met in person with Horcoff days ago and that no contract has been signed, combined with the Swedish blue liner's alleged preference to be traded, isn't encouraging for the prospects of a deal being hammered out before the Dec. 1 deadline. 

That said, there is still time for the two sides to reach a new agreement that would keep the physically imposing defenseman with the Red Wings. 

One positive that has emerged from the contract standoff is that it's given a chance for youngsters Anton Johansson and William Wallinder to showcase their skills on Detroit's blue line. 

And while both players have showcased positive aspects in their young careers, the Red Wings would be best served by having their established defenseman back in action as quickly as possible - or, if that bridge has been burned beyond repair, to recoup as many assets as possible for him in a deal. 

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