The Simon Edvinsson trade rumors suddenly have a destination worth watching closely, because the Philadelphia Flyers may have just become one of the most logical teams in the NHL to push the Detroit Red Wings into serious trade discussions.
Philadelphia has stumbled to an 0-4 start, its blue line already needs reinforcement, and NHL insider Elliotte Friedman has directly connected the Flyers to Edvinsson. Friedman said on The FAN Hockey Show that he has to think Philadelphia is “one of the teams circling around on Edvinsson.” That doesn’t mean a trade is close, but it moves this beyond a purely hypothetical Flyers wish list.
And that’s what makes this situation fascinating.
Edvinsson remains unsigned with Detroit and returned to Sweden while his restricted-free-agent negotiations remained unresolved. Detroit has since offered him a long-term contract, according to Friedman, but the two sides still haven’t closed the gap. Meanwhile, the Red Wings have reportedly explored what the trade market might look like if they ultimately decide to move the 23-year-old defenseman.
For Philadelphia, that could create exactly the type of rare opportunity that changes a rebuild.
Why the Philadelphia Flyers Could Push Hard for Simon Edvinsson
The Flyers aren’t simply looking for another body to fill out their third pairing.
Their disastrous beginning has exposed how quickly their blue line could become a problem. Philadelphia dropped its fourth straight game Monday against Tampa Bay, and Daily Faceoff reported that the Flyers have been looking into defensive help, particularly a defender with size. Rasmus Ristolainen’s absence only adds to that need.
Edvinsson would be an entirely different level of acquisition.
He is 6-foot-6, mobile, only 23 years old and already accustomed to playing significant minutes. During the 2025-26 season, Edvinsson produced nine goals and 25 points in 72 games while averaging 22:21 of ice time for Detroit. He has 60 points over his first 175 NHL games.
Those numbers don’t scream superstar offensive defenseman, but that misses what makes Edvinsson valuable.
Big defensemen who can skate, defend transition plays and handle more than 22 minutes per night are incredibly difficult to acquire. Edvinsson also posted a reported 51.2 percent share of shot attempts last season, another indication that his impact extends beyond the scoresheet.
Simon Edvinsson: Why Teams Are Calling
NHLTradeRumor.com Player Impact Snapshot
2025-26
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From my perspective, this is exactly why Philadelphia should investigate the price even if Detroit initially asks for an uncomfortable package.
The Flyers don’t need another temporary solution. If you’re going to spend significant assets, spend them on someone who could still be part of your first pairing five or six years from now.
Edvinsson qualifies.
What Would the Detroit Red Wings Demand for Simon Edvinsson?
This is where the trade becomes difficult.
Friedman indicated that Detroit has already done some exploratory work to determine what Edvinsson could return. More importantly, the discussion appears different from the Dylan Larkin situation. With Edvinsson, Detroit could potentially target established NHL talent rather than building a trade almost entirely around draft picks and prospects.
That makes sense.
If I’m running the Red Wings, I’m not trading Edvinsson simply because contract negotiations became uncomfortable. Detroit controls his rights as an RFA, he’s only 23, and players with his combination of size, skating ability and top-four upside almost never become available this early in their careers.
That creates leverage.
My NHLTradeRumor.com Trade Value Index would put Edvinsson at 89/100, placing him firmly in the premium young-player category.
NHLTradeRumor.com Trade Value Index
The biggest mistake Detroit could make would be accepting a futures-heavy package simply to end the contract standoff.
A reasonable starting framework should include an established young NHL player capable of immediately helping Detroit, plus another premium asset. That second component could be a first-round selection, a high-level prospect or another young roster player depending on the quality of the primary piece.
Cam York has naturally been mentioned in outside speculation because he’s a 25-year-old defenseman under long-term contract, but there is no evidence Philadelphia has offered York or that Detroit has specifically requested him. Any York-for-Edvinsson framework remains hypothetical at this stage.
There is interest.
There is reportedly a market check.
There is not yet a reported trade offer.
The Flyers Can Actually Afford a Major Edvinsson Contract
Salary-cap flexibility makes Philadelphia particularly interesting.
According to our numbers, the Flyers currently have approximately $13.49 million in cap space, while Detroit has approximately $17.40 million available.
Because Edvinsson remains unsigned, we don’t know what his eventual cap hit will be. But Philadelphia has enough room to absorb a substantial long-term contract without requiring Detroit to retain money or engineer an unusually complicated cap transaction.
For example, an $8.5 million hypothetical Edvinsson contract would leave Philadelphia with roughly $3.99 million in current space before accounting for any salary going back to Detroit.
That’s significant.
And if an established Flyers player were part of the trade, Philadelphia’s remaining flexibility could be considerably greater.
Flyers–Red Wings Salary Cap Fit
Hypothetical Simon Edvinsson long-term contract scenarios
This is one reason I would take the Flyers seriously.
Plenty of contenders would love to acquire Edvinsson. Far fewer teams have the cap room, young assets and organizational timeline to trade for him and immediately negotiate the long-term contract necessary to make the acquisition worthwhile.
Philadelphia checks all three boxes.
Why Philadelphia’s 0-4 Start Could Accelerate the Conversation
Four games should never dictate the direction of a franchise.
But four games can expose problems management already suspected existed.
Philadelphia was outshot by more than 20 in Monday night’s 4-1 loss to Tampa Bay, dropping the Flyers to 0-4. Goaltending kept the game closer than Philadelphia’s overall performance probably deserved.
That’s where Edvinsson becomes more than an interesting trade target.
He potentially fixes something.
Adding a 23-year-old defenseman capable of playing major minutes isn’t the same as making a desperation October trade for a veteran rental. Edvinsson could address an immediate weakness while still fitting Philadelphia’s long-term roster construction.
That matters enormously.
The Flyers have already shown they’re willing to think aggressively about acquiring young elite talent. Their reported offseason attempt to land Leo Carlsson through an offer sheet demonstrated that management isn’t afraid of making a major move if the right player becomes available.
Edvinsson may now represent another opportunity.
My Read on the Simon Edvinsson Trade Rumors
If Detroit truly intends to trade Simon Edvinsson, I believe Philadelphia should be one of the most aggressive teams on the phone.
Not because the Flyers are 0-4.
Because Edvinsson fits what they’re trying to build.
That’s the critical difference.
A panic trade attempts to fix October. A smart blockbuster acquires a player who can still be helping your franchise in October 2031.
Edvinsson could be that player.
Detroit, however, should have absolutely no reason to sell low. The Red Wings still have the ability to repair the relationship, sign him and move forward. Their current cap position gives them more than enough room to accommodate a major contract, meaning there isn’t a financial reason they must trade him.
That is why Philadelphia may have to make Detroit an offer it can’t comfortably reject.
The Flyers are circling. Detroit has tested the market. Edvinsson remains unsigned.
Those three facts are enough to make this one of the NHL trade rumors worth watching very closely.
But until an actual offer is reported, that’s where the certainty ends.
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