St. Louis Blues Reportedly Interested In Red Wings' Simon Edvinsson; Would They Be Willing To Part Ways With The Necessary Assets?

Throughout the off-season and now as the 2026-27 NHL season is in full swing, the St. Louis Blues have been interested in adding a young, NHL-proven defenseman.

They've long been linked to the Carolina Hurricanes' 25-year-old blueliner Alexander Nikishin, but nothing has materialized. Many insiders believe the Blues are the frontrunners to land Nikishin, but progress has stalled for quite some time.

But a new young stud defenseman has hit the trade market: Detroit Red Wings' Simon Edvinsson.

Like Nikishin, Edvinsson is a restricted free agent without a contract, and he, too, prefers a trade away from the team that holds his rights. The 23-year-old is a do-it-all defender with a very intriguing skill set.

Standing 6-foot-6, Edvinsson is a two-way defender who most believe has more to offer offensively. Through two full seasons, Edvinsson's career high is nine goals and 31 points. Despite owning a large frame, Edvinsson still ranks highly in many of NHL EDGE's skating speed stats. 

He uses his footwork efficiently to defend against the rush and on puck retrievals. His reach helps him maintain effective gaps and recover defensively. He plays in all situations and is on a really strong path to becoming a top-pairing defenseman, if he isn't already considered one. 

Whatever team lands Edvinsson is gaining a high-end defenseman, but it will definitely come at a cost.

His contract projection keeps rising as the salary cap grows and big contracts are handed out across the NHL. But the price to acquire him might be greater. The Red Wings are in an interesting spot. They have several skilled players like Lucas Raymond, Dylan Larkin (another player who has requested a trade), Alex DeBrincat, Moritz Seider, and John Gibson, as well as several young, enticing prospects. 

With that, they hope to land an NHL-proven player among picks and prospects. Sportsnet's Ryan Dixon believes the Red Wings would prefer a promising young NHL center in return, suggesting Dalibor Dvorsky as an option. 

This raises an interesting question for the Blues. They think highly of Dvorsky, who has now locked down a middle-six center role for the Blues. But is he truly untouchable?

The Blues are committed to Robert Thomas as captain, made a big move to land Mason McTavish, and drafted two centers, Tynan Lawrence and Maddox Dagenais, in the first round of the last NHL draft. 

A position that was once a need is now a strength for the Blues, which could help them acquire a player like Edvinsson or Nikishin to address another need. 

Losing Dvorsky would be a tough pill to swallow. He's proven to be a reliable defensive center with strong offensive traits, highlighted by a heavy, accurate shot. If there were one downside to Dvorsky's game, it's his skating speed. The question is whether it's enough for the Blues to feel comfortable moving on. 

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