Simon Edvinsson’s future with the Detroit Red Wings is becoming a more urgent NHL trade storyline. Elliotte Friedman indicated on the October 26 edition of The FAN Hockey Show that talks involving the unsigned defenceman are picking up and Detroit wants a significant return.
No trade or accepted offer has been established, and Detroit has not abandoned its stated preference to re-sign him. The standoff has kept the 23-year-old out of the lineup.
The bigger question is no longer simply which team wants a 6-foot-6 left-shot defenceman. It’s whether an interested club can offer the kind of young centre Detroit appears to be seeking while also handling the cost of Edvinsson’s next contract.
With the December 1 restricted-free-agent signing deadline approaching, that combination could decide whether the situation ends with a new deal in Detroit or a significant trade.
Latest Simon Edvinsson Trade Rumors: What Friedman Actually Reported
Friedman’s October 26 comments, point to increasing activity around Edvinsson and a high asking price. That follows his October 22 reporting for Sportsnet, in which he said the Red Wings had begun asking rival clubs about young centres, including prospects not yet established in the NHL.
There is an important qualification: Friedman did not establish that every conversation about young centres was specifically an Edvinsson negotiation. Detroit has also explored options involving Dylan Larkin, whose trade situation creates a separate problem down the middle.
And the organization’s public message has not changed. On October 14, interim general manager Shawn Horcoff told NHL.com he had no interest in trading Edvinsson and wanted to sign him.
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Taken together, those statements describe two tracks: Detroit can still pursue an extension while learning what a trade market might offer. Calls are not evidence that the player is being moved imminently.
Why Detroit’s Young-Centre Search Matters More Than Another Trade Rumor
In our view, the most revealing part of Friedman’s reporting is the position Detroit may be targeting in return. If the club were only looking for draft picks, more teams could assemble a credible package. A young centre capable of becoming a long-term top-six player is much harder to obtain.
Detroit already has Moritz Seider anchoring its defence, but trading Edvinsson would remove another potential long-term top-pairing piece. Management would have to justify that loss with something the organization cannot easily develop or acquire elsewhere.
The Larkin situation complicates the calculation. If Detroit eventually moves its veteran centre, acquiring a younger pivot in an Edvinsson deal could provide flexibility in a separate Larkin trade. Alternatively, the Red Wings could retain Edvinsson and keep searching for centre depth through other transactions.
A lengthy list of interested clubs is not an imminent auction. A buyer needs the right asset and cap room for Edvinsson’s contract.
Simon Edvinsson’s Value: The Numbers Behind the Price
Edvinsson’s trade value is not accurately measured by his point total alone. According to NHL.com statistics, he produced 31 points in 78 games in 2024–25, then 25 points in 72 games in 2025–26. His average ice time, however, increased from 21:07 to 22:21 per game — another 74 seconds of responsibility every night.
The increased workload matters. For a prospective buyer, his age, size, mobility and established NHL usage are part of the investment.
Simon Edvinsson: Bigger Minutes, Fewer Points
Two seasons show why trade value goes beyond offensive production.
Verified season statistics: NHL.com. Calculated difference: 22:21 − 21:07 = 1:14. Checked October 27, 2026.
The Contract Is the Second Price Any Buyer Must Pay
PuckPedia lists Edvinsson without a current contract after his entry-level agreement expired. His previous cap hit was approximately $894,167, a figure that says little about what his next contract would cost.
The Fourth Period reported that Edvinsson is believed to be seeking around $11 million annually on a seven-year deal. This is a reported negotiating position, not an agreed salary. The NHL’s 2026–27 cap ceiling is $104 million, making the financial commitment consequential even for teams with room today.
A club considering a trade must therefore calculate two costs: the player or prospects surrendered to Detroit, and the annual cap commitment required to sign Edvinsson. A proposed package that ignores either side is not realistic.
Bruins, Flyers, Maple Leafs and Mammoth: Who Could Actually Make a Deal?
Boston Bruins: Boston has been identified in reporting as an interested team, and its need for a long-term defensive cornerstone is understandable. But a possible young-centre return is not as straightforward as simply naming Fraser Minten. The Bruins signed Minten to a seven-year extension in September, making him a newly committed part of their future. Boston would have to consider whether a different premium asset is worth sacrificing. No specific Bruins offer has been confirmed.
Philadelphia Flyers: Philadelphia was among the clubs identified by Pagnotta. Jett Luchanko offers an interesting hypothetical centre prospect to evaluate, although his development path and trade value should not be confused with an actual offer. The question is whether the Flyers would surrender a valued young forward and additional assets to acquire a top-pairing candidate.
Toronto Maple Leafs: Toronto’s possible fit is appealing from a roster perspective, but Detroit’s reported preference for a young centre makes the asset match difficult. Easton Cowan is an intriguing young forward, not a simple solution to the Red Wings’ centre requirement. An Atlantic Division trade would also demand a particularly convincing return. Our earlier Maple Leafs–Edvinsson analysis examined that speculative connection; there is no verified new Toronto offer from Friedman’s Monday update.
Utah Mammoth: Utah stands out because Frank Seravalli identified its interest earlier in October. Centre prospect Caleb Desnoyers, selected fourth overall in 2025, gives the club an asset profile that fits the type Detroit has reportedly explored. That does not mean Utah has offered him. It means a theoretical discussion would begin with a much more relevant asset than a package built around later-round draft picks.
Our assessment: Utah and Philadelphia offer clearer young-centre scenarios. Boston faces a more complicated asset decision; Toronto remains a hypothetical fit, not a confirmed front-runner.
What Happens Next Before December 1?
The next meaningful development would be a contract agreement, an independently reported concrete offer, or a clear change in Horcoff’s public position. A fresh list of teams merely monitoring Edvinsson would not, by itself, move this story forward.
The December 1 deadline is real: without a new contract by that date, Edvinsson cannot play in the NHL for the remainder of the 2026–27 season. That creates pressure on both the player and Detroit, but it does not compel the Red Wings to accept a lesser trade return.
For now, we see a negotiated extension as a viable outcome, not an outcome to discount just because talks have intensified. Detroit still holds the rights to a 23-year-old defenceman who has already handled top-four minutes; surrendering him without a premium return could create a new organizational hole while attempting to solve another.
Final Take: Detroit Needs the Right Return, Not Just More Calls
Friedman’s latest update makes Edvinsson’s situation more timely, but the real story is the emerging relationship between Detroit’s defensive future and its need for young centres. If an interested team cannot solve both the asset and contract questions, all the trade interest in the world may not produce a deal.
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