The Detroit Red Wings and San Jose Sharks have discussed Simon Edvinsson “pretty deeply,” NHL insider Elliotte Friedman said on Thursday’s edition of 32 Thoughts: The Podcast. The talks put San Jose among the potential destinations for the unsigned defenseman, though a trade is far from certain.
Rinky Report shared Friedman’s comments on X, where he stressed that he did not know whether the discussions would lead to a deal.
“I do think that the Red Wings and the Sharks have talked about Edvinsson pretty deeply,” Friedman said.
“I don’t know that’s going to happen because I’m not sure what the Sharks are willing to do here…I do think those teams have talked about him pretty deeply.”
Friedman did not reveal what either team might be willing to offer. Detroit interim general manager Shawn Horcoff has also made it clear that he wants to keep Edvinsson rather than trade him.
“I have zero interest in trading Simon Edvinsson, I want to keep him,” Horcoff said on Oct. 14, per Helene St. James of the Detroit Free Press.
Edvinsson, the sixth overall pick in the 2021 draft, is coming off his entry-level contract. The defenseman recorded nine goals and 25 points in 72 games last season, finishing with a plus-12 rating. He averaged 22:21 of ice time per game, second among Detroit skaters behind Moritz Seider.
The 23-year-old went through training camp without a contract, missed the preseason and trained in Sweden before returning to North America, according to TSN’s Chris Johnston.
TSN’s Pierre LeBrun reported on Tuesday’s Insider Trading that as many as 10 teams remained in discussions about Simon Edvinsson. The Sharks and Boston Bruins were among the clubs involved. San Jose has a young core led by Macklin Celebrini, Will Smith and Michael Misa, and adding a top-pairing left-shot defenseman could address a need on its blue line. NHL Trade Talk reported that a potential return from San Jose could involve a forward currently on the Sharks’ roster. However, no specific offer has been made public.
Simon Edvinsson faces December 1 deadline as trade talks continue
Simon Edvinsson must sign an NHL contract by 5 p.m. ET on Dec. 1 to remain eligible to play in the 2026-27 season. Any team acquiring his rights would face the same deadline, leaving limited time to reach an agreement.
That deadline could become a factor if Detroit and Edvinsson remain apart in negotiations. The Red Wings would risk getting no on-ice contribution from him this season if he remains unsigned past Dec. 1, while a trade before then could bring back an asset.
Detroit is 3-3-3 and sits last in the Atlantic Division, according to TSN. Edvinsson’s absence has left the team without a defenseman who ranked second on its roster in average ice time last season.
LeBrun also reported that Simon Edvinsson’s agent, J.P. Barry, met with Horcoff in person within the past two weeks, but the two sides had yet to reach an agreement.
For now, San Jose remains a possible destination rather than a confirmed landing spot. Whether the Sharks are willing to offer enough to convince Detroit to move a defenseman it says it wants to keep remains the key question.
Edited by Sonali Verma
