NHL Insider: Simon Edvinsson "Prepared" To Play In Sweden This Season

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While the Detroit Red Wings are facing two critical situations involving as many key players, only one of them has a ticking deadline. 

Defenseman Simon Edvinsson, who remains a restricted free agent, must be signed to a new contract by the Red Wings (or another NHL club) by 4:00 p.m. ET on Dec. 1 in order to be eligible to play this season. 

And according to the latest reports from NHL Insider Elliotte Friedman, the Swedish-born blue liner could be prepared to play this season in his native homeland. 

"One of the things that some reporters who live in Sweden have told me is that they believe that if this goes past Dec. 1, he's prepared to play there," Friedman said. "That's how strong his resolve is. But we'll see. We won't know that for another 16, 17 days."

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A potential Edvinsson departure from the organization would be nothing short of a disaster, in plain terms. Towering, puck-moving defenseman are a prime commodity in the NHL, and the Red Wings managed to draft one.

He's already established himself as the club's second-most important blue liner behind Moritz Seider, and his absence so far this season has clearly been felt. 

While the Red Wings are apparently banking on Edvinsson having a change of heart and deciding to accept their offer, the chances of that happening, based on the most recent reports, aren't good. 

With time ticking away, interim GM Shawn Horcoff, who has maintained that he has no desire to trade Edvinsson, will have to make an official decision soon. 

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