The Detroit Red Wings are facing a decision that could reshape their blue line for years, and the Boston Bruins are reportedly among the teams waiting to see what happens next.
According to TSN insider Pierre LeBrun, the Red Wings continue to discuss Simon Edvinsson with as many as 10 interested NHL teams, including the Bruins and San Jose Sharks. That is a significant development considering interim general manager Shawn Horcoff recently insisted Detroit had no intention of trading its young defenseman.
Now comes another complication. David Pagnotta of The Fourth Period reports Edvinsson is believed to be seeking approximately $11 million annually on a seven-year contract. That represents a potential $77 million commitment.
Here is what makes this situation particularly fascinating: Detroit wants Edvinsson, Edvinsson reportedly sees a trade as a possible solution, and rival teams know the Red Wings are running out of time to settle the dispute.
With a December 1 signing deadline approaching, Boston’s interest could become particularly uncomfortable for Detroit.
Detroit Red Wings Trade Rumors: What Has Changed With Simon Edvinsson?
The latest reports suggest Detroit is doing two things simultaneously: attempting to negotiate a contract and evaluating potential trade returns.
LeBrun reported that Edvinsson and his agent, J.P. Barry, met with Horcoff in person, but no agreement emerged. The defenseman has not formally requested a trade, according to the reporting, although a fresh start remains an apparent possibility.
Meanwhile, Pagnotta reported October 21 that trade conversations have intensified this week. Boston, San Jose, Philadelphia, St. Louis, Seattle and Nashville are among the clubs identified as having discussions with Detroit.
Importantly, interest does not mean an offer has been accepted, and discussions do not establish that any trade is imminent.
Horcoff’s position remains that Detroit wants to keep Edvinsson. But the willingness of other general managers to continue making calls creates a genuine negotiation pressure point.
The story is no longer simply about an unsigned restricted free agent. It is about whether Detroit can preserve its long-term defensive foundation.
Simon Edvinsson: By the Numbers
Regular-season production comparison
Why Simon Edvinsson Is Worth So Much to the Red Wings
Edvinsson is not a typical defenseman entering trade discussions.
The 23-year-old was selected sixth overall in the 2021 NHL Draft. At 6-foot-6, he combines remarkable size with the skating ability to move pucks out of pressure and defend against speed through the neutral zone.
During the 2025-26 season, Edvinsson scored nine goals and produced 25 points in 72 games while averaging a career-high 22:21 in ice time. He registered 31 points the previous season.
Those statistics do not fully capture his value.
From my perspective, Edvinsson’s greatest asset is his ability to handle difficult defensive assignments without sacrificing mobility. Large defensemen who can recover against fast forwards and contribute to controlled breakouts are exceptionally difficult to develop.
His lower offensive production last season does raise a legitimate question about how much Detroit should pay. However, evaluating Edvinsson strictly by points ignores the workload and defensive responsibilities that accompany his role.
For a rebuilding organization, losing a player with his physical tools and age profile would be a significant setback.
Why Shawn Horcoff’s Public Position Matters
On October 14, Horcoff told NHL.com: “I have zero interest in trading Simon Edvinsson.”
That is a powerful public declaration, but it does not mean Detroit should refuse to answer the telephone.
General managers routinely listen to rival teams without intending to complete a transaction. Knowing what another club might pay provides valuable information during contract negotiations.
My interpretation is that Horcoff wants to preserve two options. Signing Edvinsson remains the preferred outcome, while maintaining trade conversations protects Detroit if the contract impasse becomes impossible to resolve.
The distinction matters. A general manager trying to trade a player usually approaches negotiations differently from one who is only willing to move him for an extraordinary return.
Why the Boston Bruins Are Such an Intriguing Trade Destination
The Boston Bruins are particularly interesting because they play in the same Atlantic Division as Detroit.
Acquiring Edvinsson would give Boston another young, physically imposing defenseman capable of playing substantial minutes. Alongside Charlie McAvoy, he could help establish a formidable long-term defensive foundation.
His skating and reach would also fit Boston’s preference for defenders who can disrupt opposing forwards and support a structured defensive game.
However, a Bruins acquisition would come with two substantial challenges.
First, Detroit would have to accept strengthening a direct divisional opponent. I believe the Red Wings should demand a higher-quality package from Boston than from a Western Conference suitor offering comparable assets.
Second, the Bruins must make the salary-cap mathematics work.
Pagnotta reports Edvinsson is training in Boston, but that geographic detail should not be mistaken for evidence of a Bruins agreement. His location and the reported trade interest are separate facts.
Simon Edvinsson Contract Demands Create a Salary-Cap Challenge
The NHL’s 2026-27 salary cap is $104 million. We currently project approximately $17.03 million in Detroit cap space and $6.44 million for Boston.
At an $11 million annual salary, Detroit could theoretically accommodate the contract within its projected space.
Boston, however, would face an estimated $4.56 million shortfall against its projected cap room before accounting for outgoing contracts or other roster moves.
That is why a Bruins trade would probably require both a significant player package and a carefully structured salary-cap solution.
Can Boston Afford Simon Edvinsson?
| Edvinsson AAV | DET space left | BOS shortfall |
|---|---|---|
| $8M | $9.03M | $1.56M |
| $9M | $8.03M | $2.56M |
| $11M* | $6.03M | $4.56M |
What Could the Bruins Offer Detroit for Simon Edvinsson?
The Red Wings should not approach this as a simple exchange of an unsigned player for draft picks.
Edvinsson is already capable of handling significant NHL minutes, and his best seasons may still be ahead of him.
LeBrun has identified trades involving young defensemen such as Noah Dobson, Mikhail Sergachev and Bowen Byram as possible valuation references. They are useful precedents, although their contract circumstances and market conditions differ.
For Boston, the logical starting point would be a premium young asset, a first-round draft pick and potentially another prospect or NHL-ready contributor.
James Hagens is the kind of high-end prospect who illustrates how expensive such an acquisition could become. That is not a report that Hagens has been offered or even discussed in an actual trade proposal.
Personally, I would favour an NHL-ready young player plus a high-value future asset over a return built entirely around distant draft picks.
Detroit needs to establish a competitive identity now. Trading Edvinsson only to restart another lengthy development cycle could push the organization further away from its goal.
What Is a Fair Simon Edvinsson Return?
Our illustrative 100-point return index weights the three assets Detroit should prioritize.
Blue-chip prospect and unprotected first-round pick.
60/100Quality NHL-ready young player and first-round pick.
65/100NHL-ready player, blue-chip prospect and first-round pick.
100/100Could the San Jose Sharks Outbid the Boston Bruins?
San Jose presents a different type of opportunity. The Sharks are building around a young offensive core featuring Macklin Celebrini. Adding a mobile, 6-foot-6 defenseman could be an important step toward constructing a balanced contender.
Unlike Boston, San Jose also plays in the Western Conference. Detroit could move Edvinsson without worrying about facing him repeatedly in critical Atlantic Division games.
That does not automatically make San Jose the favourite.
The Sharks would still have to offer Detroit assets that meaningfully improve its future. The same applies to Philadelphia, Seattle, Nashville and St. Louis, all of which have been linked to conversations.
For me, the most compelling destination is not necessarily the team with the deepest prospect system. It is the team prepared to surrender a player Detroit can confidently project into its lineup within the next two seasons.
That should be Horcoff’s priority.
The Dylan Larkin Situation Makes Detroit’s Decision More Dangerous
One reason this story deserves attention beyond the contract negotiations is the uncertainty surrounding Dylan Larkin.
Larkin requested a trade during the offseason, and Detroit has been navigating that situation while attempting to establish stability under Horcoff.
Losing Larkin would remove an important established leader and offensive contributor. Losing Edvinsson as well would potentially damage the team’s defensive future.
That combination would place enormous pressure on the Red Wings’ remaining young core.
Detroit recently committed to Alex DeBrincat with a seven-year extension carrying a $13 million annual cap hit. That demonstrates a willingness to pay premium salaries for players viewed as foundational pieces.
The difficult question is whether the organization considers Edvinsson deserving of a comparable long-term commitment.
My concern is that Detroit could become so focused on winning a contract negotiation that it loses sight of the larger roster-building picture.
December 1 Is the Deadline Every Red Wings Fan Should Watch
Under the NHL’s restricted free-agent signing rules, Edvinsson must sign by December 1 to remain eligible to play in the league this season.
That deadline changes the leverage on both sides. Edvinsson risks losing an entire NHL season if no agreement is reached. Detroit risks having a major young defenseman unavailable while its roster continues competing without him.
The Bruins and other interested teams also need enough time to negotiate a contract and arrange the necessary salary-cap adjustments.
As the deadline approaches, I expect the urgency surrounding this situation to increase, although that does not guarantee a trade.
The next genuine developments to watch are a negotiated contract, a reported firm offer, or a clear shift in Detroit’s willingness to move Edvinsson.
Will Detroit Actually Trade Simon Edvinsson?
My prediction is that Detroit continues pushing for an extension before seriously considering a trade.
Edvinsson’s combination of youth, size, mobility and top-four ability is too valuable to surrender merely because negotiations have become uncomfortable.
Nevertheless, I believe Boston’s involvement deserves attention. An Atlantic Division rival acquiring a potential long-term defensive cornerstone could haunt Detroit for years.
If Horcoff eventually agrees to move Edvinsson, the return must be exceptional, and the Red Wings should prefer assets that can help sooner rather than later.
For now, there is no confirmed transaction, no formally reported trade request and no announced contract agreement.
But with multiple interested teams, an unresolved salary dispute and the December 1 deadline approaching, Simon Edvinsson has become one of the NHL’s most compelling trade situations.
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